1. The Open Window: A classic example of Saki's dark humor and unexpected twists. This story features a young man who visits a country house and is told a chilling tale by a young girl about the ghost of her uncle who died in a nearby swamp. The story takes a sudden turn when the real uncle, who has just returned from abroad, appears in the window.
2. The Interlopers: This story, set in the Carpathian Mountains, features two feuding families locked in a bitter dispute over a piece of forestland. The two protagonists, Ulrich von Gradwitz and Georg Znaeym, find themselves trapped together in the forest during a snowstorm. Their predicament forces them to confront their hatred and to consider a possible reconciliation.
3. Sredni Vashtar: This unsettling story features a lonely and unhappy young boy named Conradin who lives in a grim house with his cruel aunt and cousin. Conradin finds solace in his pet ferret, Sredni Vashtar, whom he considers a god. When his aunt and cousin become ill, Conradin believes Sredni Vashtar is responsible for their suffering, a belief that adds a disturbing and ambiguous ending to the story.