Rainsford did not know what Zaroff had in mind so his last resort was self defense. Rainsford must have thought that if Zaroff did not die then he would be the one to die instead. Since Ivan got caught in the trap Zaroff might have figured his only chance of living was to kill Rainsford, Rainsford could have caught onto that and killed him so he would not have to die. Rainsford probably would have had
Rainsford did not know what Zaroff had in mind so his last resort was self defense. Rainsford must have thought that if Zaroff did not die then he would be the one to die instead. Since Ivan got caught in the trap Zaroff might have figured his only chance of living was to kill Rainsford, Rainsford could have caught onto that and killed him so he would not have to die. Rainsford probably would have had