Zaroff does indeed congratulate Rainsford. In fact, he congratulates him twice in the story. He first congratulates him when Rainsford makes a clever trap during the hunt. He makes a Malay mancatcher. He also wounds Zaroff with this trap. Zaroff is impressed.
"Rainsford," called the general, "if you are within sound of my voice, as I suppose you are, let me congratulate you. Not many men know how to make a Malay mancatcher.
The second time general Zaroff congratulates him comes at the end of the story, when Rainsford decides to go on the offensive. This completely took Zaroff by surprise, because Rainsford does not try to wait it out in the wood by hiding. Presumably others have tried to wait it out. Rainsford swims to Zaroff’s house to surprise him. When Zaroff returns, he sees that Rainford is there. He also knows that he will have to face Rainsford one on one in battle.
He says: The general sucked in his breath and smiled. "I congratulate you," he said. "You have won the game."
In this context, Rainsford presumably kills Zaroff. We can assume this because he slept in Zaroff's bed.
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