THE BRAVE ARCHER
IT was a bright summer day. In the morning Carl's father had said to
the boys:
"You may have a holiday and may go where you please with the
schoolmaster. I will attend to the cows all the day."
So they had taken a lunch and had climbed to the summit of the
mountain. Their kind teacher had told them stories of the flowers and
the stones.
"They never seemed so much alive to me before," said Carl, as they sat
resting on a big gray rock, far up above the pastures. "I like to hear
you talk in school, dear master, but it is far better up here among the
grand mountains and in the fresh air. Perhaps William Tell himself once
stood on this very spot."
"It is quite likely," replied the schoolmaster. "You know that his home
was not many miles from our village. He was never so happy as when
wandering among the mountains. Those were wonderful times in which he
lived. But there is the same feeling now as then. We Swiss love freedom
best of all, and are ever ready to give our lives for it, if there be
need."
"How cruel the Austrians were! They thought that because theirs was a
large and powerful country they could do with us as they pleased. But
they found themselves mistaken after awhile, didn't they?" said Franz.
"Yes, my boy, but never forget that our freedom started in the work of
_three_ men, and three only, who joined together with brave hearts.
They worked with no selfish feeling, and, before the end came, they had
filled all Switzerland with the daring to be free."
"Yes, yes, we will always remember that. And only think! one of those
three men lived here in our Canton. I am always proud to think of it."
"Boys, look at our country now, and then turn back to the sad times
long ago. Can you imagine the way those three men felt when they met
in the dark night on the field of Rütli? Can you not see them pledging
themselves to their country in throwing off the yoke of Austria?
"They hated their rulers so much that a peacock was not allowed to live
in Switzerland. That was, you know, because a peacock feather was the
emblem of Austria."
"Wasn't it about that time that William Tell lived?" asked Carl.
"Yes, and he was known through all the country as a brave man and a
skilful archer. It was very natural that he should refuse to show
honour to the Austrian governor."
"It makes me angry whenever I think of Gessler," cried Franz. "It
seems to me only another name for cruel power. But is it possible
that he really had his hat stuck up on a pole in the market-place of
Altdorf, and that every Swiss who passed by was ordered to bow down
before it?"
"I believe so, although some people think the whole story of William
Tell is only a legend, and that is a part of it. Our history shows,
however, that this brave man really lived."
"Won't you repeat the story?" asked Franz. "I love to hear it over and
over again."
"Yes, if you like."
"After Gessler's hat had been stuck on the pole, William Tell was one
of those who passed by. Bow before the hat of the cruel tyrant! It was
not to be thought of. Tell took no notice of it whatever. He did not
appear to know it was there.
"Now it happened that one of Gessler's spies stood near by. He watched
Tell closely. He sent word to his master at once that there was one
Swiss who would not give him proper honour. You know what followed, my
boys. Tell was seized and bound.
"Gessler must have said to himself, 'I will make an example of this
insolent peasant.' For Tell was brought before him and ordered to stand
at a great distance from his little son and shoot at an apple on the
boy's head. If he struck the apple he was to be allowed to go free.
"Do you think Tell feared he could not do it? No, he was too good an
archer. But his child was so dear to him that his very love might make
his hand tremble. Think again! the boy might move from fright, and then
the arrow would enter his body instead of the apple on his head.
"It was a terrible thing to think of. But William Tell made ready for
the trial. The time came. A crowd of people gathered to see the test.
The boy did not move a muscle. The arrow went straight to its mark. The
people shouted with joy.
"Then it was that Gessler, who had been watching closely, noticed that
Tell held a second arrow.
"'Why didst thou bring more than one, thou proud peasant?' angrily
asked the tyrant.
"'That I might shoot thee had I failed in cleaving the apple,' was the
quick answer.
"'Seize him! Bind him hand and foot, and away with him to the dungeon!'
shouted the enraged governor.
"His men seized Tell, and strong chains made the noble Swiss helpless.
He was carried to a boat already waiting on the shore, for the dungeon
was across the deep, blue waters of Lake Lucerne.
"Ah! how sad must have been the hearts of our people as they watched
Gessler and his servants get into the boat and row away. They thought
they would never see the brave archer again.
"But this was not God's will. A sudden storm arose before the party
had gone very far. The wind blew fearfully, and the little boat was
tossed about on the waves as though it were a feather. The rowers could
not keep the boat in her course. It seemed as though, every moment,
she would be dashed against the rocks and destroyed. Then it was that
Gessler remembered that Tell was as skilful with a boat as he was with
a bow and arrow.
"'Take off the peasant's chains,' he cried. 'Let him guide us to a safe
landing-place. It is our only chance of being saved.'
"Tell was made free. His quick mind told him what to do. He seized
the oars, and with strong strokes soon brought the boat close to the
shore. Then, springing out, he pushed the boat off into the water.
"Would Gessler be saved? Tell wondered if it were possible. Then he
said to himself, 'If the tyrant is not destroyed, he must go home
through the pass in the mountains.'
"With this thought, he hurried up over the crags, and hid himself
behind a great rock. He waited patiently. At last he heard footsteps
and voices. His enemy was drawing near. He stood ready with bent bow.
As Gessler came into view, whizz! flew the arrow straight into the
tyrant's heart! He could never again harm Switzerland or the Swiss."
"Brave Tell! Brave Tell!" shouted Carl. "Dear master, have you ever
visited the chapel which stands to-day in honour of this great
countryman of ours?"
"Yes, Carl, and when you come back to the lowlands in the fall, you
shall visit it with me. You and Franz must also go to look at the
stone on which Tell stepped as he sprang from Gessler's boat. Even now,
we can seem to feel Tell's joy when he wandered among the mountains,
and thought of plans by which he could help his country. For after
Gessler was killed, there was the whole army of Austria to be driven
out."
"People needn't tell me that the story of William Tell and the apple
is only a legend," exclaimed Franz. "I believe every word of it, don't
you, Carl?"
"Indeed I do. Won't you tell us another story? Look! the sun is still
high in the sky. We need not go home for an hour yet."
"Let me see, boys. Shall it be a tale of old Switzerland and of her
struggles with her enemies?"
"Yes, yes," cried both boys. "We are never tired of hearing of the
lives of our great men."
"Very well, then, you shall listen to the story of Arnold of Winkelried.
"It was a time of great danger. The Austrians were pouring into our
country. Their soldiers, protected by the strongest steel armour, bore
fearful weapons. Our people were poor, and had only slings or bows and
arrows with which to defend themselves. What should be done? There was
the Austrian army, closely drawn up, with shields glistening in the
sunlight,--here were the Swiss, few and unprotected, but burning with
love for their country.
"It seemed as though all chance of saving Switzerland was hopeless.
Then the brave Arnold spoke.
"'Friends,' said he, 'I am ready to give my life for my country. I
will rush into the ranks of our enemies and make an entrance for
you. Be ready; follow with all your might, and you may throw them
into confusion. You who live after me must take care of my wife and
children when I am gone.'
"There was not a moment to be lost.
"'Make way for Liberty!' cried Arnold, then ran with arms extended
wide, as if to clasp his dearest friend.
"A hundred spears were thrust toward him. He gathered as many as he
could in his hands and arms. They entered his body on all sides, but
before the hero fell he had made an opening into the ranks of the enemy
through which his comrades dashed. Thrown into confusion, the Austrians
fled, and were driven out of our loved country.
"Switzerland was saved for us, my lads, through the sacrifice of that
noble man, Arnold von Winkelried. May you live to do him honour!"
"I can see him now, as he rushed into the midst of the cruel
Austrians," cried Carl, jumping to his feet. "Noble, noble Arnold! I
do not believe any other land has such a hero. Dear master, I will try
to be braver and truer all my life, and be ready to serve my country
faithfully in time of need."
"I, too," exclaimed Franz, "will be more of a man from this very
moment."
"Well said, my dear boys. But come, it is growing late and you will be
needed at home."