When the Emperor Albert ruled over Germany, he wished to govern the
people of Switzerland in such a way that their independent spirit would
be broken. To bring about this end he appointed a governor, who treated
the Swiss unjustly and cruelly.
The name of this man was Gessler, and in order to test the people's
obedience, he placed his hat upon a pole in the market square of one of
the principal towns, and commanded that all who passed it should bow
down before it in token of respect. A certain brave Swiss, named William
Tell, having refused to obey such an absurd order, was at once arrested
and taken before Gessler. The tyrant, who knew him to be a clever
archer, said that his life would be spared only on the condition that he
should with an arrow hit an apple placed upon the head of his only son.
Tell's eye was true, so he consented to the horrible proposal.
An apple having been placed upon the head of his little son, he took his
bow and quiver, and prepared to take aim. A moment later the apple,
split in two halves, fell to the ground.
Gessler, who was enraged at Tell's success, noticed that he carried
another arrow under his cloak.
"What have you a second arrow for?" he demanded.
"If I had killed my boy," replied the bold Swiss, "the second arrow was
for you."
The angry governor had him thrown into prison, but Tell escaped, and
revenged himself by killing the tyrant.
[Illustration: TELL'S SON AND THE APPLE]
[Illustration: FOR THE KING!]