Why do you think Richard Connell skips directly from the conversation between Rainsford and Zaroff to the hunt? How would the story have been affected by explaining Rainsford's preperation for the hunt?

To stop and describe Rainsford's preparation wouldn't have added any value to the story. Rainsford would not have been able to prepare for the unknown. All he could do was depend on his expertise as a hunter to negate Zaroff's actions in hunting him. His experience would avail him the opportunity to forsee possibilites in counteracting Zaroff's actions.