_In which a brave boy was not afraid to trust his life to the skill
of his father._
Gessler was a tyrant who ruled over Switzerland. He was cruel and
overbearing and made the people suffer in every way he could. They
despised him and feared him, for they could not tell what form of
tyranny he would use next.
To show his power Gessler set up a pole in the market place and on
the top of the pole he placed his hat, and ordered everybody who
passed by to bow to the hat in order to show respect to the tyrant.
The people were very much mortified at this, but they couldn’t help
themselves, and so they took off their hats and bowed very low
whenever they passed the pole with the hat on it.
One day a bold mountaineer came down into the village holding his
little son by the hand. His name was William Tell. He marched with
his head high up, and passed the pole without bowing to the hat of
Gessler. Everybody was astonished at his boldness; but he marched
up and down the square, and not once did he bow his head according
to the tyrant’s orders.
You may be sure that the spies of Gessler went straight to their
master with news of this conduct of the mountaineer. The tyrant
came into the square and ordered Tell brought before him. He saw
that he had a bow and arrow slung across his back.
“You can doubtless shoot very well,” said Gessler. “Instead of
putting you in prison, you shall shoot an apple from your son’s
head at a hundred paces.” Gessler did this thinking that Tell would
surely shoot his own little son.
The people turned pale with indignation, but Tell said not a word.
He kissed his son and told him to stand steady. He placed him at
a hundred steps and the apple was laid on his fair curly head.
Tell selected two arrows--straight and sharp--one he hid under his
jacket and the other he placed in his bow.
The boy stood with his face to his father and shut his eyes; he did
not cry nor move a muscle. The crowd was still as death as Tell
shot his arrow. Straight it flew, through the apple and lit softly
on the ground beyond the boy. A great shout went up and a clapping
of hands for joy. The boy was safe.
“But why that other arrow?” asked Gessler of Tell, pointing to his
pocket.
“To slay thee, tyrant, had I killed my boy,” answered Tell. Gessler
ordered him to be seized, but in the confusion Tell took his son in
his arms and escaped to his mountain home. Some time after this as
Gessler was riding through the forest, Tell drew his bow and shot
an arrow straight through the heart of the tyrant. In this way was
Switzerland freed from tyranny.