Explain the presence of the twelve other people on the island besides Rainsford, the general and Ivan.

The other men on the island are prisoner..... prey for Zaroff's hunting. Zaroff reveals that he has set up a trap on the island. There are lights that indicate a channel but there is actually none. Many ships end up wrecking on the rocks near the island. Zaroff collects the men, feeds them, and sends them to his training school for preparation. He then releases them one by one into the jungle under the guise of joining him on a hunt. Zaroff gives the men a head start and then pursues them during the cover of night. The rules of Zaroff’s game are simple—if the prey is able to elude Zaroff for three days, then he has won.