1. William Tell had a strong flexible (161) bow. 2. He could
shoot-with-a-bow ("arkpafi") excellently, therefore he was a well-known
archer. 3. He put six or eight arrows into his quiver, and went with his
sons to the village. 4. Possibly he saw the hat upon the pole, but he
did not kneel before it. 5. It was being noticed already in the village
that Tell hated the tyrant very much. 6. When the guards seized him
for that act, and led him before the tyrant, who was also the judge,
Tell said "I did not know about this new duty, and could not imagine
why the hat was on the pole there." 7. The tyrant replied with ("per")
angry words, for he hated the proud Swiss whom every one else loved.
8. He said severely "It is said that you are a praiseworthy archer. 9.
Therefore I was wondering whether you could shoot an apple from your
son's head. 10. Now we shall see whether you can shoot off the apple, or
whether you will touch the child's head." 11. Amid the pleadings of all,
Tell successfully shot off the apple. 12. A similar second arrow was
ready in his hand. 13. The tyrant saw the remaining arrow, and prepared
to punish Tell by death. 14. But he escaped, and the Swiss congratulated
each other heartily ("kore"). 15. After some time they followed him, at
the rate of six miles an hour.