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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7298-8.txt b/7298-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0dfbc6d --- /dev/null +++ b/7298-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2683 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of William Tell Told Again, by +P. G. Wodehouse and John W. Houghton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: William Tell Told Again + +Author: P. G. Wodehouse + John W. Houghton + +Illustrator: Philip Dadd + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7298] +First posted: April 9, 2003 +Last Updated: May 30, 2012 + + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Branko Collin, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, and the +Oxford College Library of Emory University + + + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: _William Tell Told Again_ is two children's books +in one. One is a picture book--16 full-color illustrations by Philip +Dadd described in verse by John W. Houghton. The other is a humorous +novel by P. G. Wodehouse, based on the picture book. The novel has a +lengthier storyline, a more intricate plot, and more characterization. +The bound volume intermingled the picture book with the novel, +illustrations and poems appearing at regular intervals. Most pictures +and verses were distant from the page of the novel that they reflected. + +For this text version, placeholders for the illustrations (with plate +numbers) have been inserted following the paragraph in the novel that +describes the events being illustrated. The verse descriptions of the +illustrations, labelled with plate numbers, have been moved to the end +of the novel, so as not to disrupt the story. Each verse also has an +illustration placeholder that includes the phrase from the novel shown +as a description on the List of Illustrations.] + + +[Illustration: Frontispiece] + + + + + + +WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN + + + + +BY P. G. WODEHOUSE + +1904 + + +WITH +ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR BY PHILIP DADD +DESCRIBED IN VERSE BY JOHN W. HOUGHTON + + + + +[Dedication] +TO BIDDY O'SULLIVAN +FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +SOMETIMES IT WAS ONLY A BIRD [Frontispiece] + +GESSLER'S METHODS OF PERSUASION [Plate I] + +THEY WOULD MARCH ABOUT, BEATING TIN CANS AND SHOUTING [Plate II] + +AN EGG FLEW ACROSS THE MEADOW, AND BURST OVER LEUTHOLD'S SHOULDER +[Plate III] + +"HERE! HI!" SHOUTED THE SOLDIERS, "STOP!" [Plate IV] + +THEY SAW FRIESSHARDT RAISE HIS PIKE, AND BRING IT DOWN WITH ALL HIS +FORCE ON TELL'S HEAD [Plate V] + +"LOOK HERE!" HE BEGAN. "LOOK THERE!" SAID FRIESSHARDT [Plate VI] + +FRIESSHARDT RUSHED TO STOP HIM [Plate VII] + +THE CROWD DANCED AND SHOUTED [Plate VIII] + +"COME, COME, COME!" SAID GESSLER, "TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT" [Plate IX] + +"I HAVE HERE AN APPLE" [Plate X] + +THERE WAS A STIR OF EXCITEMENT IN THE CROWD [Plate XI] + +A MOMENT'S SUSPENSE, AND THEN A TERRIFIC CHEER AROSE FROM THE +SPECTATORS [Plate XII] + +"SEIZE THAT MAN!" HE SHOUTED [Plate XIII] + +HE WAS LED AWAY TO THE SHORE OF THE LAKE [Plate XIV] + +TELL'S SECOND ARROW HAD FOUND ITS MARK [Plate XV] + + + + + + The Swiss, against their Austrian foes, + Had ne'er a soul to lead 'em, + Till Tell, as you've heard tell, arose + And guided them to freedom. + Tell's tale we tell again--an act + For which pray no one scold us-- + This tale of Tell we tell, in fact, + As this Tell tale was told us. + + + + + +WILLIAM TELL + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Once upon a time, more years ago than anybody can remember, before the +first hotel had been built or the first Englishman had taken a +photograph of Mont Blanc and brought it home to be pasted in an album +and shown after tea to his envious friends, Switzerland belonged to the +Emperor of Austria, to do what he liked with. + +One of the first things the Emperor did was to send his friend Hermann +Gessler to govern the country. Gessler was not a nice man, and it soon +became plain that he would never make himself really popular with the +Swiss. The point on which they disagreed in particular was the question +of taxes. The Swiss, who were a simple and thrifty people, objected to +paying taxes of any sort. They said they wanted to spend their money on +all kinds of other things. Gessler, on the other hand, wished to put a +tax on everything, and, being Governor, he did it. He made everyone who +owned a flock of sheep pay a certain sum of money to him; and if the +farmer sold his sheep and bought cows, he had to pay rather more money +to Gessler for the cows than he had paid for the sheep. Gessler also +taxed bread, and biscuits, and jam, and buns, and lemonade, and, in +fact, everything he could think of, till the people of Switzerland +determined to complain. They appointed Walter Fürst, who had red hair +and looked fierce; Werner Stauffacher, who had gray hair and was always +wondering how he ought to pronounce his name; and Arnold of Melchthal, +who had light-yellow hair and was supposed to know a great deal about +the law, to make the complaint. They called on the Governor one lovely +morning in April, and were shown into the Hall of Audience. + +"Well," said Gessler, "and what's the matter now?" + +The other two pushed Walter Fürst forward because he looked fierce, and +they thought he might frighten the Governor. + +Walter Fürst coughed. + +"Well?" asked Gessler. + +"Er--ahem!" said Walter Fürst. + +"That's the way," whispered Werner; "_give_ it him!" + +"Er--ahem!" +said Walter Fürst again; "the fact is, your Governorship--" + +"It's a small point," interrupted Gessler, "but I'm generally called +'your Excellency.' Yes?" + +"The fact is, your Excellency, it seems to the people of Switzerland--" + +"--Whom I represent," whispered Arnold of Melchthal. + +"--Whom I represent, that things want changing." + +"What things?" inquired Gessler. + +"The taxes, your excellent Governorship." + +"Change the taxes? Why, don't the people of Switzerland think there are +enough taxes?" + +Arnold of Melchthal broke in hastily. + +"They think there are many too many," he said. "What with the tax on +sheep, and the tax on cows, and the tax on bread, and the tax on tea, +and the tax--" + +"I know, _I_ know," Gessler interrupted; "I know all the taxes. +Come to the point. What about 'em?" + +"Well, your Excellency, there are too many of them." + +"Too many!" + +"Yes. And we are not going to put up with it any longer!" shouted +Arnold of Melchthal. + +Gessler leaned forward in his throne. + +"Might I ask you to repeat that remark?" he said. + +"We are not going to put up with it any longer!" + +Gessler sat back again with an ugly smile. + +"Oh," he said--"oh, indeed! You aren't, aren't you! Desire the Lord +High Executioner to step this way," he added to a soldier who stood +beside him. + +The Lord High Executioner entered the presence. He was a kind-looking +old gentleman with white hair, and he wore a beautiful black robe, +tastefully decorated with death's-heads. + +"Your Excellency sent for me?" he said. + +"Just so," replied Gessler. "This gentleman here"--he pointed to Arnold +of Melchthal--"says he does not like taxes, and that he isn't going to +put up with them any longer." + +"Tut-tut!" murmured the executioner. + +"See what you can do for him." + +"Certainly, your Excellency. Robert," he cried, "is the oil on the +boil?" + +"Just this minute boiled over," replied a voice from the other side of +the door. + +"Then bring it in, and mind you don't spill any." + +Enter Robert, in a suit of armour and a black mask, carrying a large +caldron, from which the steam rose in great clouds. + +"Now, sir, if you please," said the executioner politely to Arnold of +Melchthal. + +Arnold looked at the caldron. + +"Why, it's hot," he said. + +"Warmish," admitted the executioner. + +"It's against the law to threaten a man with hot oil." + +[Illustration: PLATE I] + +"You may bring an action against me," said the executioner. "Now, sir, +if _you_ please. We are wasting time. The forefinger of your left +hand, if I may trouble you. Thank you. I am obliged." + +He took Arnold's left hand, and dipped the tip of the first finger into +the oil. + +"Ow!" cried Arnold, jumping. + +"Don't let him see he's hurting you," whispered Werner Stauffacher. +"Pretend you don't notice it." + +Gessler leaned forward again. + +"Have your views on taxes changed at all?" he asked. "Do you see my +point of view more clearly now?" + +Arnold admitted that he thought that, after all, there might be +something to be said for it. + +"That's right," said the Governor. "And the tax on sheep? You don't +object to that?" + +"No." + +"And the tax on cows?" + +"I like it." + +"And those on bread, and buns, and lemonade?" + +"I enjoy them." + +"Excellent. In fact, you're quite contented?" + +"Quite." + +"And you think the rest of the people are?" + +"Oh, quite, quite!" + +"And do you think the same?" he asked of Walter and Werner. + +"Oh _yes_, your Excellency!" they cried. + +"Then _that's_ all right," said Gessler. "I was sure you would be +sensible about it. Now, if you will kindly place in the tambourine +which the gentleman on my left is presenting to you a mere trifle to +compensate us for our trouble in giving you an audience, and if you" +(to Arnold of Melchthal) "will contribute an additional trifle for use +of the Imperial boiling oil, I think we shall all be satisfied. You've +done it? _That's_ right. Good-bye, and mind the step as you go +out." + +And, as he finished this speech, the three spokesmen of the people of +Switzerland were shown out of the Hall of Audience. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +They were met in the street outside by a large body of their +fellow-citizens, who had accompanied them to the Palace, and who had +been spending the time since their departure in listening by turns at +the keyhole of the front-door. But as the Hall of Audience was at the +other side of the Palace, and cut off from the front-door by two other +doors, a flight of stairs, and a long passage, they had not heard very +much of what had gone on inside, and they surrounded the three spokesmen +as they came out, and questioned them eagerly. + +"Has he taken off the tax on jam?" asked Ulric the smith. + +"What is he going to do about the tax on mixed biscuits?" shouted Klaus +von der Flue, who was a chimney-sweep of the town and loved mixed +biscuits. + +"Never mind about tea and mixed biscuits!" cried his neighbour, Meier +of Sarnen. "What I want to know is whether we shall have to pay for +keeping sheep any more." + +"What _did_ the Governor say?" asked Jost Weiler, a practical man, +who liked to go straight to the point. + +The three spokesmen looked at one another a little doubtfully. + +"We-e-ll," said Werner Stauffacher at last, "as a matter of fact, he +didn't actually _say_ very much. It was more what he _did_, +if you understand me, than what he said." + +"I should describe His Excellency the Governor," said Walter Fürst, "as +a man who has got a way with him--a man who has got all sorts of +arguments at his finger-tips." + +At the mention of finger-tips, Arnold of Melchthal uttered a sharp +howl. + +"In short," continued Walter, "after a few minutes' very interesting +conversation he made us see that it really wouldn't do, and that we +must go on paying the taxes as before." + +There was a dead silence for several minutes, while everybody looked at +everybody else in dismay. + +The silence was broken by Arnold of Sewa. Arnold of Sewa had been +disappointed at not being chosen as one of the three spokesmen, and he +thought that if he had been so chosen all this trouble would not have +occurred. + +"The fact is," he said bitterly, "that you three have failed to do what +you were sent to do. I mention no names--far from it--but I don't mind +saying that there are some people in this town who would have given a +better account of themselves. What you want in little matters of this +sort is, if I may say so, tact. Tact; that's what you want. Of course, +if you _will_ go rushing into the Governor's presence--" + +"But we didn't rush," said Walter Fürst. + +"--Shouting out that you want the taxes abolished--" + +"But we didn't shout," said Walter Fürst. + +"I really cannot speak if I am to be constantly interrupted," said +Arnold of Sewa severely. "What I say is, that you ought to employ tact. +Tact; that's what you want. If I had been chosen to represent the Swiss +people in this affair--I am not saying I ought to have been, mind you; +I merely say _if_ I had been--I should have acted rather after the +following fashion: Walking firmly, but not defiantly, into the tyrant's +presence, I should have broken the ice with some pleasant remark about +the weather. The conversation once started, the rest would have been +easy. I should have said that I hoped His Excellency had enjoyed a good +dinner. Once on the subject of food, and it would have been the +simplest of tasks to show him how unnecessary taxes on food were, and +the whole affair would have been pleasantly settled while you waited. I +do not imply that the Swiss people would have done better to have +chosen me as their representative. I merely say that that is how I +should have acted had they done so." + +And Arnold of Sewa twirled his moustache and looked offended. His +friends instantly suggested that he should be allowed to try where the +other three had failed, and the rest of the crowd, beginning to hope +once more, took up the cry. The result was that the visitors' bell of +the Palace was rung for the second time. Arnold of Sewa went in, and +the door was banged behind him. + +Five minutes later he came out, sucking the first finger of his left +hand. + +"No," he said; "it can't be done. The tyrant has convinced me." + +"I knew he would," said Arnold of Melchthal. + +"Then I think you might have warned me," snapped Arnold of Sewa, +dancing with the pain of his burnt finger. + +"Was it hot?" + +"Boiling." + +"Ah!" + +"Then he really won't let us off the taxes?" asked the crowd in +disappointed voices. + +"No." + +"Then the long and short of it is," said Walter Fürst, drawing a deep +breath, "that we must rebel!" + +"Rebel?" cried everybody. + +"Rebel!" repeated Walter firmly. + +"We will!" cried everybody. + +"Down with the tyrant!" shouted Walter Fürst. + +"Down with the taxes!" shrieked the crowd. + +A scene of great enthusiasm followed. The last words were spoken by +Werner Stauffacher. + +"We want a leader," he said. + +"I don't wish to thrust myself forward," began Arnold of Sewa, "but I +must say, if it comes to leading--" + +"And I know the very man for the job," said Werner Stauffacher. +"William Tell!" + +"Hurrah for William Tell!" roared the crowd, and, taking the time from +Werner Stauffacher, they burst into the grand old Swiss chant which +runs as follows: + + "For he's a jolly good fellow! + For he's a jolly good fellow!! + For he's a jolly good fe-e-ll-ow!!!! + And so say all of us!" + +And having sung this till they were all quite hoarse, they went off to +their beds to get a few hours' sleep before beginning the labours of +the day. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +In a picturesque little châlet high up in the mountains, covered with +snow and edelweiss (which is a flower that grows in the Alps, and you +are not allowed to pick it), dwelt William Tell, his wife Hedwig, and +his two sons, Walter and William. Such a remarkable man was Tell that I +think I must devote a whole chapter to him and his exploits. There was +really nothing he could not do. He was the best shot with the cross-bow +in the whole of Switzerland. He had the courage of a lion, the +sure-footedness of a wild goat, the agility of a squirrel, and a +beautiful beard. If you wanted someone to hurry across desolate +ice-fields, and leap from crag to crag after a chamois, Tell was the +man for your money. If you wanted a man to say rude things to the +Governor, it was to Tell that you applied first. Once when he was +hunting in the wild ravine of Schächenthal, where men were hardly +ever to be seen, he met the Governor face to face. There was no way +of getting past. On one side the rocky wall rose sheer up, while below +the river roared. Directly Gessler caught sight of Tell striding along +with his cross-bow, his cheeks grew pale and his knees tottered, and he +sat down on a rock feeling very unwell indeed. + +"Aha!" said Tell. "Oho! so it's you, is it? _I_ know you. And a +nice sort of person you are, with your taxes on bread and sheep, aren't +you! You'll come to a bad end one of these days, that's what will +happen to you. Oh, you old reprobate! Pooh!" And he had passed on with +a look of scorn, leaving Gessler to think over what he had said. And +Gessler ever since had had a grudge against him, and was only waiting +for a chance of paying him out. + +"Mark my words," said Tell's wife, Hedwig, when her husband told her +about it after supper that night--"mark my words, he will never +forgive you." + +"I will avoid him," said Tell. "He will not seek me." + +"Well, mind you do," was Hedwig's reply. + +On another occasion, when the Governor's soldiers were chasing a friend +of his, called Baumgarten, and when Baumgarten's only chance of escape +was to cross the lake during a fierce storm, and when the ferryman, +sensibly remarking, "What! must I rush into the jaws of death? No man +that hath his senses would do that!" refused to take out his boat even +for twice his proper fare, and when the soldiers rode down to seize +their prey with dreadful shouts, Tell jumped into the boat, and, rowing +with all his might, brought his friend safe across after a choppy +passage. Which made Gessler the Governor still more angry with him. + +But it was as a marksman that Tell was so extraordinary. There was +nobody in the whole of the land who was half so skilful. He attended +every meeting for miles around where there was a shooting competition, +and every time he won first prize. Even his rivals could not help +praising his skill. "Behold!" they would say, "Tell is quite the +pot-hunter," meaning by the last word a man who always went in for +every prize, and always won it. And Tell would say, "Yes, truly am I +a pot-hunter, for I hunt to fill the family pot." And so he did. He never +came home empty-handed from the chase. Sometimes it was a chamois that +he brought back, and then the family had it roasted on the first day, +cold on the next four, and minced on the sixth, with sippets of toast +round the edge of the dish. Sometimes it was only a bird (as on the +cover of this book), and then Hedwig would say, "Mark my words, this +fowl will not go round." But it always did, and it never happened that +there was not even a fowl to eat. + +[Illustration: Frontispiece] + +In fact, Tell and his family lived a very happy, contented life, in +spite of the Governor Gessler and his taxes. + +Tell was very patriotic. He always believed that some day the Swiss +would rise and rebel against the tyranny of the Governor, and he used +to drill his two children so as to keep them always in a state of +preparation. They would march about, beating tin cans and shouting, and +altogether enjoying themselves immensely, though Hedwig, who did not +like noise, and wanted Walter and William to help her with the +housework, made frequent complaints. "Mark my words," she would say, +"this growing spirit of militarism in the young and foolish will lead +to no good," meaning that boys who played at soldiers instead of +helping their mother to dust the chairs and scrub the kitchen floor +would in all probability come to a bad end. But Tell would say, "Who +hopes to fight his way through life must be prepared to wield arms. +Carry on, my boys!" And they carried on. It was to this man that the +Swiss people had determined to come for help. + +[Illustration: PLATE II] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Talking matters over in the inn of the town, the Glass and Glacier, the +citizens came to the conclusion that they ought to appoint three +spokesmen to go and explain to Tell just what they wanted him to do. + +"I don't wish to seem to boast at all," said Arnold of Sewa, "but I +think I had better be one of the three." + +"I was thinking," said Werner Stauffacher, "that it would be a pity +always to be chopping and changing. Why not choose the same three as +were sent to Gessler?" + +"I don't desire to be unpleasant at all," replied Arnold of Sewa, "but +I must be forgiven for reminding the honourable gentleman who has just +spoken that he and his equally honourable friends did not meet with the +best of success when they called upon the Governor." + +"Well, and you didn't either!" snapped Arnold of Melchthal, whose +finger still hurt him, and made him a little bad-tempered. + +"That," said Arnold of Sewa, "I put down entirely to the fact that you +and your friends, by not exercising tact, irritated the Governor, and +made him unwilling to listen to anybody else. Nothing is more important +in these affairs than tact. That's what you want--tact. But have it +your own way. Don't mind _me!_" + +And the citizens did not. They chose Werner Stauffacher, Arnold of +Melchthal, and Walter Fürst, and, having drained their glasses, the +three trudged up the steep hill which led to Tell's house. + +It had been agreed that everyone should wait at the Glass and Glacier +until the three spokesmen returned, in order that they might hear the +result of their mission. Everybody was very anxious. A revolution +without Tell would be quite impossible, and it was not unlikely that +Tell might refuse to be their leader. The worst of a revolution is +that, if it fails, the leader is always executed as an example to the +rest. And many people object to being executed, however much it may set +a good example to their friends. On the other hand, Tell was a brave +man and a patriot, and might be only too eager to try to throw off the +tyrant's yoke, whatever the risk. They had waited about an hour, when +they saw the three spokesmen coming down the hill. Tell was not with +them, a fact which made the citizens suspect that he had refused their +offer. The first thing a man does when he has accepted the leadership +of a revolution is to come and plot with his companions. + +"Well?" said everybody eagerly, as the three arrived. + +Werner Stauffacher shook his head. + +"Ah," said Arnold of Sewa, "I see what it is. He has refused. You +didn't exercise tact, and he refused." + +"We _did_ exercise tact," said Stauffacher indignantly; "but he +would not be persuaded. It was like this: We went to the house and +knocked at the door. Tell opened it. 'Good-morning,' I said. + +"'Good-morning,' said he. 'Take a seat.' + +"I took a seat. + +"'My heart is full,' I said, 'and longs to speak with you.' I thought +that a neat way of putting it." + +The company murmured approval. + +"'A heavy heart,' said Tell, 'will not +grow light with words.'" + +"Not bad that!" murmured Jost Weiler. "Clever way of putting things, +Tell has got." + +"'Yet words,' I said, 'might lead us on to deeds.'" + +"Neat," said Jost Weiler--"very neat. Yes?" + +"To which Tell's extraordinary reply was: 'The only thing to do is to +sit still.' + +"'What!' I said; 'bear in silence things unbearable?' + +"'Yes,' said Tell; 'to peaceable men peace is gladly granted. When the +Governor finds that his oppression does not make us revolt, he will +grow tired of oppressing.'" + +"And what did you say to that?" asked Ulric the smith. + +"I said he did not know the Governor if he thought he could ever grow +tired of oppressing. 'We might do much,' I said, 'if we held fast +together. Union is strength,' I said. + +"'The strong,' said Tell, 'is strongest when he stands alone.' + +"'Then our country must not count on thee,' I said, 'when in despair +she stands on self-defence?' + +"'Oh, well,' he said, 'hardly that, perhaps. I don't want to desert +you. What I mean to say is, I'm no use as a plotter or a counsellor and +that sort of thing. Where I come out strong is in deeds. So don't +invite me to your meetings and make me speak, and that sort of thing; +but if you want a man to _do_ anything--why, that's where I shall +come in, you see. Just write if you want me--a postcard will do--and +you will not find William Tell hanging back. No, sir.' And with those +words he showed us out." + +"Well," said Jost Weiler, "I call that encouraging. All we have to do +now is to plot. Let us plot." + +"Yes, let's!" shouted everybody. + +Ulric the smith rapped for silence on the table. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "our friend Mr. Klaus von der Flue will now read +a paper on 'Governors--their drawbacks, and how to get rid of them.' +Silence, gentlemen, please. Now, then, Klaus, old fellow, speak up and +get it over." + +And the citizens settled down without further delay to a little serious +plotting. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +A few days after this, Hedwig gave Tell a good talking to on the +subject of his love for adventure. He was sitting at the door of his +house mending an axe. Hedwig, as usual, was washing up. Walter and +William were playing with a little cross-bow not far off. + +"Father," said Walter. + +"Yes, my boy?" + +"My bow-string has bust." ("Bust" was what all Swiss boys said when +they meant "broken.") + +"You must mend it yourself, my boy," said Tell. "A sportsman always +helps himself." + +"What _I_ say," said Hedwig, bustling out of the house, "is that a +boy of his age has no business to be shooting. I don't like it." + +"Nobody can shoot well if he does not begin to practise early. Why, +when I was a boy--I remember on one occasion, when--" + +"What _I_ say," interrupted Hedwig, "is that a boy ought not to +want always to be shooting, and what not. He ought to stay at home and +help his mother. And I wish you would set them a better example." + +"Well, the fact is, you know," said Tell, "I don't think Nature meant +me to be a stay-at-home and that sort of thing. I couldn't be a +herdsman if you paid me. I shouldn't know what to do. No; everyone has +his special line, and mine is hunting. Now, I _can_ hunt." + +"A nasty, dangerous occupation," said Hedwig. "I don't like to hear of +your being lost on desolate ice-fields, and leaping from crag to crag, +and what not. Some day, mark my words, if you are not careful, you will +fall down a precipice, or be overtaken by an avalanche, or the ice will +break while you are crossing it. There are a thousand ways in which you +might get hurt." + +"A man of ready wit with a quick eye," replied Tell complacently, +"never gets hurt. The mountain has no terror for her children. I am a +child of the mountain." + +"You are certainly a child!" snapped Hedwig. "It is no use my arguing +with you." + +"Not very much," agreed Tell, "for I am just off to the town. I have an +appointment with your papa and some other gentlemen." + +(I forgot to say so before, but Hedwig was the daughter of Walter +Fürst.) + +"Now, _what_ are you and papa plotting?" asked Hedwig. "I know +there is something going on. I suspected it when papa brought Werner +Stauffacher and the other man here, and you wouldn't let me listen. +What is it? Some dangerous scheme, I suppose?" + +"Now, how in the world do you get those sort of ideas into your head?" +Tell laughed. "Dangerous scheme! As if I should plot dangerous schemes +with your papa!" + +"I know," said Hedwig. "You can't deceive _me!_ There is a plot +afoot against the Governor, and you are in it." + +"A man must help his country." + +"They're sure to place you where there is most danger. I know them. +Don't go. Send Walter down with a note to say that you regret that an +unfortunate previous engagement, which you have just recollected, will +make it impossible for you to accept their kind invitation to plot." + +"No; I must go." + +"And there is another thing," continued Hedwig: "Gessler the Governor +is in the town now." + +"He goes away to-day." + +"Well, wait till he has gone. You must not meet him. He bears you +malice." + +"To me his malice cannot do much harm. I do what's right, and fear no +enemy." + +"Those who do right," said Hedwig, "are those he hates the most. And +you know he has never forgiven you for speaking like that when you met +him in the ravine. Keep away from the town for to-day. Do anything +else. Go hunting, if you will." + +"No," said Tell; "I promised. I must go. Come along, Walter." + +"You _aren't_ going to take that poor _dear_ child? Come +here, Walter, directly minute!' + +"Want to go with father," said Walter, beginning to cry, for his father +had promised to take him with him the next time he went to the town, +and he had saved his pocket-money for the occasion. + +"Oh, let the boy come," said Tell. "William will stay with you, won't +you, William?" + +"All right, father," said William. + +"Well, mark my words," said Hedwig, "if something bad does not happen I +shall be surprised." + +"Oh no," said Tell. "What can happen?" + +And without further delay he set off with Walter for the town. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +In the meantime all kinds of things of which Tell had no suspicion had +been happening in the town. The fact that there were no newspapers in +Switzerland at that time often made him a little behindhand as regarded +the latest events. He had to depend, as a rule, on visits from his +friends, who would sit in his kitchen and tell him all about everything +that had been going on for the last few days. And, of course, when +there was anything very exciting happening in the town, nobody had time +to trudge up the hill to Tell's châlet. They all wanted to be in the +town enjoying the fun. + +What had happened now was this. It was the chief amusement of the +Governor, Gessler (who, you will remember, was _not_ a nice man), +when he had a few moments to spare from the cares of governing, to sit +down and think out some new way of annoying the Swiss people. He was +one of those persons who + + "only do it to annoy, + Because they know it teases." + +What he liked chiefly was to forbid something. He would find out what +the people most enjoyed doing, and then he would send a herald to say +that he was very sorry, but it must stop. He found that this annoyed +the Swiss more than anything. But now he was rather puzzled what to do, +for he had forbidden everything he could think of. He had forbidden +dancing and singing, and playing on any sort of musical instrument, on +the ground that these things made such a noise, and disturbed people +who wanted to work. He had forbidden the eating of everything except +bread and the simplest sorts of meat, because he said that anything +else upset people, and made them unfit to do anything except sit still +and say how ill they were. And he had forbidden all sorts of games, +because he said they were a waste of time. + +So that now, though he wanted dreadfully to forbid something else, he +could not think of anything. + +Then he had an idea, and this was it: + +He told his servants to cut a long pole. And they cut a very long pole. +Then he said to them, "Go into the hall and bring me one of my hats. +Not my best hat, which I wear on Sundays and on State occasions; nor +yet my second-best, which I wear every day; nor yet, again, the one I +wear when I am out hunting, for all these I need. Fetch me, rather, the +oldest of my hats." And they fetched him the very oldest of his hats. +Then he said, "Put it on top of the pole." And they put it right on top +of the pole. And, last of all, he said, "Go and set up the pole in the +middle of the meadow just outside the gates of the town." And they went +and set up the pole in the very middle of the meadow just outside the +gates of the town. + +Then he sent his heralds out to north and south and east and west to +summon the people together, because he said he had something very +important and special to say to them. And the people came in tens, and +fifties, and hundreds, men, women, and children; and they stood waiting +in front of the Palace steps till Gessler the Governor should come out +and say something very important and special to them. + +And punctually at eleven o'clock, Gessler, having finished a capital +breakfast, came out on to the top step and spoke to them. + +"Ladies and gentlemen,"--he began. (A voice from the crowd: "Speak +up!") + +"Ladies and gentlemen," he began again, in a louder voice, "if I could +catch the man who said 'Speak up!' I would have him bitten in the neck +by wild elephants. (Applause.) I have called you to this place to-day +to explain to you my reason for putting up a pole, on the top of which +is one of my caps, in the meadow just outside the city gates. It is +this: You all, I know, respect and love me." Here he paused for the +audience to cheer, but as they remained quite silent he went on: "You +would all, I know, like to come to my Palace every day and do reverence +to me. (A voice: 'No, no!') If I could catch the man who said 'No, no!' +I would have him stung on the soles of the feet by pink scorpions; and +if he was the same man who said 'Speak up!' a little while ago, the +number of scorpions should be doubled. (Loud applause.) As I was saying +before I was interrupted, I know you would like to come to my Palace +and do reverence to me there. But, as you are many and space is +limited, I am obliged to refuse you that pleasure. However, being +anxious not to disappoint you, I have set up my cap in the meadow, and +you may do reverence to _that_. In fact, you _must_. Everybody is +to look on that cap as if it were me. (A voice: 'It ain't so ugly as +you!') If I could catch the man who made that remark I would have him +tied up and teased by trained bluebottles. (Deafening applause.) In +fact, to put the matter briefly, if anybody crosses that meadow without +bowing down before that cap, my soldiers will arrest him, and I will +have him pecked on the nose by infuriated blackbirds. So there! +Soldiers, move that crowd on!" + +And Gessler disappeared indoors again, just as a volley of eggs and +cabbages whistled through the air. And the soldiers began to hustle the +crowd down the various streets till the open space in front of the +Palace gates was quite cleared of them. All this happened the day +before Tell and Walter set out for the town. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Having set up the pole and cap in the meadow, Gessler sent two of his +bodyguard, Friesshardt (I should think you would be safe in pronouncing +this Freeze-hard, but you had better ask somebody who knows) and +Leuthold, to keep watch there all day, and see that nobody passed by +without kneeling down before the pole and taking off his hat to it. + +But the people, who prided themselves on being what they called +_üppen zie schnuffen_, or, as we should say, "up to snuff," and +equal to every occasion, had already seen a way out of the difficulty. +They knew that if they crossed the meadow they must bow down before the +pole, which they did not want to do, so it occurred to them that an +ingenious way of preventing this would be not to cross the meadow. So +they went the long way round, and the two soldiers spent a lonely day. + +"What I sez," said Friesshardt, "is, wot's the use of us wasting our +time here?" (Friesshardt was not a very well-educated man, and he did +not speak good grammar.) "None of these here people ain't a-going to +bow down to that there hat. Of course they ain't. Why, I can remember +the time when this meadow was like a fair--everybody a-shoving and +a-jostling one another for elbow-room; and look at it now! It's a desert. +That's what it is, a desert. What's the good of us wasting of our time +here, I sez. That's what I sez. + +"And they're artful, too, mind yer," he continued. "Why, only this +morning, I sez to myself, 'Friesshardt,' I sez, 'you just wait till +twelve o'clock,' I sez, ''cos that's when they leave the council-house, +and then they'll _have_ to cross the meadow. And then we'll see +what we _shall_ see,' I sez. Like that, I sez. Bitter-like, yer +know. 'We'll see,' I sez, 'what we _shall_ see.' So I waited, and +at twelve o'clock out they came, dozens of them, and began to cross the +meadow. 'And now,' sez I to myself, 'look out for larks.' But what +happened? Why, when they came to the pole, the priest stood in front of +it, and the sacristan rang the bell, and they all fell down on their +knees. But they were saying their prayers, not doing obeisance to the +hat. That's what _they_ were doing. Artful--that's what _they_ are!" + +And Friesshardt kicked the foot of the pole viciously with his iron +boot. + +"It's my belief," said Leuthold (Leuthold is the thin soldier you see +in the picture)--"it's my firm belief that they are laughing at us. +There! Listen to that!" + +A voice made itself heard from behind a rock not far off. + +"Where did you get that hat?" said the voice. + +"There!" grumbled Leuthold; "they're always at it. Last time it was, +'Who's your hatter?' Why, we're the laughing-stock of the place. We're +like two rogues in a pillory. 'Tis rank disgrace for one who wears a +sword to stand as sentry o'er an empty hat. To make obeisance to a hat! +I' faith, such a command is downright foolery!" + +"Well," said Friesshardt, "and why not bow before an empty hat? Thou +hast oft bow'd before an empty skull. Ha, ha! I was always one for a +joke, yer know." + +"Here come some people," said Leuthold. "At last! And they're only the +rabble, after all. You don't catch any of the better sort of people +coming here." + +A crowd was beginning to collect on the edge of the meadow. Its numbers +swelled every minute, until quite a hundred of the commoner sort must +have been gathered together. They stood pointing at the pole and +talking among themselves, but nobody made any movement to cross the +meadow. + +At last somebody shouted "Yah!" + +The soldiers took no notice. + +Somebody else cried "Booh!"' + +"Pass along there, pass along!" said the soldiers. + +Cries of "Where did you get that hat?" began to come from the body of +the crowd. When the Swiss invented a catch-phrase they did not drop it +in a hurry. + +"Where--did--you--get--that--HAT?" they shouted. + +Friesshardt and Leuthold stood like two statues in armour, paying no +attention to the remarks of the rabble. This annoyed the rabble. They +began to be more personal. + +"You in the second-hand lobster-tin," shouted one--he meant +Friesshardt, whose suit of armour, though no longer new, hardly +deserved this description--"who's your hatter?" + +"Can't yer see," shouted a friend, when Friesshardt made no reply, "the +pore thing ain't alive? 'E's stuffed!" + +Roars of laughter greeted this sally. Friesshardt, in spite of the fact +that he enjoyed a joke, turned pink. + +"'E's blushing!" shrieked a voice. + +Friesshardt turned purple. + +Then things got still more exciting. + +"'Ere," said a rough voice in the crowd impatiently, "wot's the good of +_torkin'_ to 'em? Gimme that 'ere egg, missus!" + +And in another instant an egg flew across the meadow, and burst over +Leuthold's shoulder. The crowd howled with delight. This was something +_like_ fun, thought they, and the next moment eggs, cabbages, +cats, and missiles of every sort darkened the air. The two soldiers +raved and shouted, but did not dare to leave their post. At last, just +as the storm was at its height, it ceased, as if by magic. Everyone in +the crowd turned round, and, as he turned, jumped into the air and +waved his hat. + +[Illustration: PLATE III] + +A deafening cheer went up. + +"Hurrah!" cried the mob; "here comes good old Tell! _Now_ there's +going to be a jolly row!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Tell came striding along, Walter by his side, and his cross-bow over +his shoulder. He knew nothing about the hat having been placed on the +pole, and he was surprised to see such a large crowd gathered in the +meadow. He bowed to the crowd in his polite way, and the crowd gave +three cheers and one more, and he bowed again. + +"Hullo!" said Walter suddenly; "look at that hat up there, father. On +the pole." + +"What is the hat to us?" said Tell; and he began to walk across the +meadow with an air of great dignity, and Walter walked by his side, +trying to look just like him. + +"Here! hi!" shouted the soldiers. "Stop! You haven't bowed down to the +cap." + +[Illustration: PLATE IV] + +Tell looked scornful, but said nothing. Walter looked still more +scornful. + +"Ho, there!" shouted Friesshardt, standing in front of him. "I bid you +stand in the Emperor's name." + +"My good fellow," said Tell, "please do not bother me. I am in a hurry. +I really have nothing for you." + +"My orders is," said Friesshardt, "to stand in this 'ere meadow and to +see as how all them what passes through it does obeisance to that there +hat. Them's Governor's orders, them is. So now." + +"My good fellow," said Tell, "let me pass. I shall get cross, I know I +shall." + +Shouts of encouragement from the crowd, who were waiting patiently for +the trouble to begin. + +"Go it, Tell!" they cried. "Don't stand talking to him. Hit him a +kick!" + +Friesshardt became angrier every minute. + +"My orders is," he said again, "to arrest them as don't bow down to the +hat, and for two pins, young feller, I'll arrest you. So which is it to +be? Either you bow down to that there hat or you come along of me." + +Tell pushed him aside, and walked on with his chin in the air. Walter +went with him, with his chin in the air. + +WHACK! + +A howl of dismay went up from the crowd as they saw Friesshardt raise +his pike and bring it down with all his force on Tell's head. The sound +of the blow went echoing through the meadow and up the hills and down +the valleys. + +[Illustration: PLATE V] + +"Ow!" cried Tell. + +"_Now_," thought the crowd, "things must begin to get exciting." + +Tell's first idea was that one of the larger mountains in the +neighbourhood had fallen on top of him. Then he thought that there must +have been an earthquake. Then it gradually dawned upon him that he had +been hit by a mere common soldier with a pike. Then he _was_ +angry. + +"Look here!" he began. + +"Look there!" said Friesshardt, pointing to the cap. + +[Illustration: PLATE VI] + +"You've hurt my head very much," said Tell. "Feel the bump. If I hadn't +happened to have a particularly hard head I don't know what might not +have happened;" and he raised his fist and hit Friesshardt; but as +Friesshardt was wearing a thick iron helmet the blow did not hurt him +very much. + +But it had the effect of bringing the crowd to Tell's assistance. They +had been waiting all this time for him to begin the fighting, for +though they were very anxious to attack the soldiers, they did not like +to do so by themselves. They wanted a leader. + +So when they saw Tell hit Friesshardt, they tucked up their sleeves, +grasped their sticks and cudgels more tightly, and began to run across +the meadow towards him. + +Neither of the soldiers noticed this. Friesshardt was busy arguing with +Tell, and Leuthold was laughing at Friesshardt. So when the people came +swarming up with their sticks and cudgels they were taken by surprise. +But every soldier in the service of Gessler was as brave as a lion, and +Friesshardt and Leuthold were soon hitting back merrily, and making a +good many of the crowd wish that they had stayed at home. The two +soldiers were wearing armour, of course, so that it was difficult to +hurt them; but the crowd, who wore no armour, found that _they_ +could get hurt very easily. Conrad Hunn, for instance, was attacking +Friesshardt, when the soldier happened to drop his pike. It fell on +Conrad's toe, and Conrad limped away, feeling that fighting was no fun +unless you had thick boots on. + +And so for a time the soldiers had the best of the fight. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +For many minutes the fight raged furiously round the pole, and the +earth shook beneath the iron boots of Friesshardt and Leuthold as they +rushed about, striking out right and left with their fists and the +flats of their pikes. Seppi the cowboy (an ancestor, by the way, of +Buffalo Bill) went down before a tremendous blow by Friesshardt, and +Leuthold knocked Klaus von der Flue head over heels. + +"What you _want_" said Arnold of Sewa, who had seen the beginning +of the fight from the window of his cottage and had hurried to join it, +and, as usual, to give advice to everybody--"what you want here is +guile. That's what you want--guile, cunning. Not brute force, mind you. +It's no good rushing at a man in armour and hitting him. He only hits +you back. You should employ guile. Thus. Observe." + +He had said these words standing on the outskirts of the crowd. He now +grasped his cudgel and began to steal slowly towards Friesshardt, who +had just given Werni the huntsman such a hit with his pike that the +sound of it was still echoing in the mountains, and was now busily +engaged in disposing of Jost Weiler. Arnold of Sewa crept stealthily +behind him, and was just about to bring his cudgel down on his head, +when Leuthold, catching sight of him, saved his comrade by driving his +pike with all his force into Arnold's side. Arnold said afterwards that +it completely took his breath away. He rolled over, and after being +trodden on by everybody for some minutes, got up and limped back to his +cottage, where he went straight to bed, and did not get up for two +days. + +All this time Tell had been standing a little way off with his arms +folded, looking on. While it was a quarrel simply between himself and +Friesshardt he did not mind fighting. But when the crowd joined in he +felt that it was not fair to help so many men attack one, however badly +that one might have behaved. + +He now saw that the time had come to put an end to the disturbance. He +drew an arrow from his quiver, placed it in his crossbow, and pointed +it at the hat. Friesshardt, seeing what he intended to do, uttered a +shout of horror and rushed to stop him. But at that moment somebody in +the crowd hit him so hard with a spade that his helmet was knocked over +his eyes, and before he could raise it again the deed was done. Through +the cap and through the pole and out at the other side sped the arrow. +And the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Tell standing +beside him twirling his moustache, while all around the crowd danced +and shouted and threw their caps into the air with joy. + +[Illustration: PLATE VII] + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII] + +"A mere trifle," said Tell modestly. + +The crowd cheered again and again. + +Friesshardt and Leuthold lay on the ground beside the pole, feeling +very sore and bruised, and thought that perhaps, on the whole, they had +better stay there. There was no knowing what the crowd might do after +this, if they began to fight again. So they lay on the ground and made +no attempt to interfere with the popular rejoicings. What they +_wanted_, as Arnold of Sewa might have said if he had been there, +was a few moments' complete rest. Leuthold's helmet had been hammered +with sticks until it was over his eyes and all out of shape, and +Friesshardt's was very little better. And they both felt just as if +they had been run over in the street by a horse and cart. + +"Tell!" shouted the crowd. "Hurrah for Tell! Good old Tell!" + +"Tell's the boy!" roared Ulric the smith. "Not another man in +Switzerland could have made that shot." + +"No," shrieked everybody, "not another!" + +"Speech!" cried someone from the edge of the crowd. + +"Speech! Speech! Tell, speech!" Everybody took up the cry. + +"No, no," said Tell, blushing. + +"Go on, go on!" shouted the crowd. + +"Oh, I couldn't," said Tell; "I don't know what to say." + +"Anything will do. Speech! Speech!" + +Ulric the smith and Ruodi the fisherman hoisted Tell on to their +shoulders, and, having coughed once or twice, he said: + +"Gentlemen--" + +Cheers from the crowd. + +"Gentlemen," said Tell again, "this is the proudest moment of my life." + +More cheers. + +"I don't know what you want me to talk about. I have never made a +speech before. Excuse my emotion. This is the proudest moment of my +life. To-day is a great day for Switzerland. We have struck the first +blow of the revolution. Let us strike some more." + +Shouts of "Hear, hear!" from the crowd, many of whom, misunderstanding +Tell's last remark, proceeded to hit Leuthold and Friesshardt, until +stopped by cries of "Order!" from Ulric the smith. + +"Gentlemen," continued Tell, "the floodgates of revolution have been +opened. From this day they will stalk through the land burning to ashes +the slough of oppression which our tyrant Governor has erected in our +midst. I have only to add that this is the proudest moment of my life, +and----" + +He was interrupted by a frightened voice. + +"Look out, you chaps," said the voice; "here comes the Governor!" + +Gessler, with a bodyguard of armed men, had entered the meadow, and was +galloping towards them. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Gessler came riding up on his brown horse, and the crowd melted away in +all directions, for there was no knowing what the Governor might not do +if he found them plotting. They were determined to rebel and to throw +off his tyrannous yoke, but they preferred to do it quietly and +comfortably, when he was nowhere near. + +So they ran away to the edge of the meadow, and stood there in groups, +waiting to see what was going to happen. Not even Ulric the smith and +Ruodi the fisherman waited, though they knew quite well that Tell had +not nearly finished his speech. They set the orator down, and began to +walk away, trying to look as if they had been doing nothing in +particular, and were going to go on doing it--only somewhere else. + +Tell was left standing alone in the middle of the meadow by the pole. +He scorned to run away like the others, but he did not at all like the +look of things. Gessler was a stern man, quick to punish any insult, +and there were two of his soldiers lying on the ground with their nice +armour all spoiled and dented, and his own cap on top of the pole had +an arrow right through the middle of it, and would never look the same +again, however much it might be patched. It seemed to Tell that there +was a bad time coming. + +Gessler rode up, and reined in his horse. + +"Now then, now then, now then!" he said, in his quick, abrupt way. +"What's this? what's this? what's this?" + +(When a man repeats what he says three times, you can see that he is +not in a good temper.) + +Friesshardt and Leuthold got up, saluted, and limped slowly towards +him. They halted beside his horse, and stood to attention. The tears +trickled down their cheeks. + +"Come, come, come!" said Gessler; "tell me all about it." + +[Illustration: PLATE IX] + +And he patted Friesshardt on the head. Friesshardt bellowed. + +Gessler beckoned to one of his courtiers. + +"Have you a handkerchief?" he said. + +"I have a handkerchief, your Excellency." + +"Then dry this man's eyes." + +The courtier did as he was bidden. + +"_Now_," said Gessler, when the drying was done, and Friesshardt's +tears had ceased, "what has been happening here? I heard a cry of +'Help!' as I came up. Who cried 'Help!'?" + +"Please, your lordship's noble Excellencyship," said Friesshardt, "it +was me, Friesshardt." + +"You should say, 'It was I,'" said Gessler. "Proceed." + +"Which I am a loyal servant of your Excellency's, and in your +Excellency's army, and seeing as how I was told to stand by this 'ere +pole and guard that there hat, I stood by this 'ere pole, and guarded +that there hat--all day, I did, your Excellency. And then up comes this +man here, and I says to him--'Bow down to the hat,' I says. 'Ho!' he +says to me--'ho, indeed!' and he passed on without so much as nodding. +So I takes my pike, and I taps him on the head to remind him, as you +may say, that there was something he was forgetting, and he ups and +hits me, he does. And then the crowd runs up with their sticks and hits +me and Leuthold cruel, your Excellency. And while we was a-fighting +with them, this here man I'm a-telling you about, your Excellency, he +outs with an arrow, puts it into his bow, and sends it through the hat, +and I don't see how you'll ever be able to wear it again. It's a waste +of a good hat, your Excellency--that's what it is. And then the people, +they puts me and Leuthold on the ground, and hoists this here man--Tell, +they call him--up on their shoulders, and he starts making a speech, +when up you comes, your Excellency. That's how it all was." + +Gessler turned pale with rage, and glared fiercely at Tell, who stood +before him in the grasp of two of the bodyguard. + +"Ah," he said, "Tell, is it? Good-day to you, Tell. I think we've met +before, Tell? Eh, Tell?" + +"We have, your Excellency. It was in the ravine of Schächenthal," said +Tell firmly. + +"Your memory is good, Tell. So is mine. I think you made a few remarks +to me on that occasion, Tell--a few chatty remarks? Eh, Tell?" + +"Very possibly, your Excellency." + +"You were hardly polite, Tell." + +"If I offended you I am sorry." + +"I am glad to hear it, Tell. I think you will be even sorrier before +long. So you've been ill-treating my soldiers, eh?" + +"It was not I who touched them." + +"Oh, so you didn't touch them? Ah! But you defied my power by refusing +to bow down to the hat. I set up that hat to prove the people's +loyalty. I am afraid you are not loyal, Tell." + +"I was a little thoughtless, not disloyal. I passed the hat without +thinking." + +"You should always think, Tell. It is very dangerous not to do so. And +I suppose that you shot your arrow through the hat without thinking?" + +"I was a little carried away by excitement, your Excellency." + +"Dear, dear! Carried away by excitement, were you? You must really be +more careful, Tell. One of these days you will be getting yourself into +trouble. But it seems to have been a very fine shot. You _are_ a +capital marksman, I believe?" + +"Father's the best shot in all Switzerland," piped a youthful voice. +"He can hit an apple on a tree a hundred yards away. I've seen him. +Can't you, father?" + +Walter, who had run away when the fighting began, had returned on +seeing his father in the hands of the soldiers. + +Gessler turned a cold eye upon him. + +"Who is this?" he asked. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +"It is my son Walter, your Excellency," said Tell. + +"Your son? Indeed. This is very interesting. Have you any more +children?" + +"I have one other boy." + +"And which of them do you love the most, eh?" + +"I love them both alike, your Excellency." + +"Dear me! Quite a happy family. Now, listen to me, Tell. I know you are +fond of excitement, so I am going to try to give you a little. Your son +says that you can hit an apple on a tree a hundred yards away, and I am +sure you have every right to be very proud of such a feat. +Friesshardt!" + +"Your Excellency?" + +"Bring me an apple." + +Friesshardt picked one up. Some apples had been thrown at him and +Leuthold earlier in the day, and there were several lying about. + +"Which I'm afraid as how it's a little bruised, your Excellency," he +said, "having hit me on the helmet." + +"Thank you. I do not require it for eating purposes," said Gessler. +"Now, Tell, I have here an apple--a simple apple, not over-ripe. I +should like to test that feat of yours. So take your bow--I see you +have it in your hand--and get ready to shoot. I am going to put this +apple on your son's head. He will be placed a hundred yards away from +you, and if you do not hit the apple with your first shot your life +shall pay forfeit." + +[Illustration: PLATE X] + +And he regarded Tell with a look of malicious triumph. + +"Your Excellency, it cannot be!" cried Tell; "the thing is too +monstrous. Perhaps your Excellency is pleased to jest. You cannot bid a +father shoot an apple from off his son's head! Consider, your +Excellency!" + +"You shall shoot the apple from off the head of this boy," said Gessler +sternly. "I do not jest. That is my will." + +"Sooner would I die," said Tell. + +"If you do not shoot you die with the boy. Come, come, Tell, why so +cautious? They always told me that you loved perilous enterprises, and +yet when I give you one you complain. I could understand anybody else +shrinking from the feat. But you! Hitting apples at a hundred yards is +child's play to you. And what does it matter where the apple is--whether +it is on a tree or on a boy's head? It is an apple just the same. +Proceed, Tell." + +The crowd, seeing a discussion going on, had left the edge of the +meadow and clustered round to listen. A groan of dismay went up at the +Governor's words. + +"Down on your knees, boy," whispered Rudolph der Harras to Walter--"down +on your knees, and beg his Excellency for your life." + +"I won't!" said Walter stoutly. + +"Come," said Gessler, "clear a path there--clear a path! Hurry +yourselves. I won't have this loitering. Look you, Tell: attend to me +for a moment. I find you in the middle of this meadow deliberately +defying my authority and making sport of my orders. I find you in the +act of stirring up discontent among my people with speeches. I might +have you executed without ceremony. But do I? No. Nobody shall say that +Hermann Gessler the Governor is not kind-hearted. I say to myself, 'I +will give this man one chance.' I place your fate in your own skilful +hands. How can a man complain of harsh treatment when he is made master +of his own fate? Besides, I don't ask you to do anything difficult. I +merely bid you perform what must be to you a simple shot. You boast of +your unerring aim. Now is the time to prove it. Clear the way there!" + +Walter Fürst flung himself on his knees before the Governor. + +"Your Highness," he cried, "none deny your power. Let it be mingled +with mercy. It is excellent, as an English poet will say in a few +hundred years, to have a giant's strength, but it is tyrannous to +use it like a giant. Take the half of my possessions, but spare my +son-in-law." + +But Walter Tell broke in impatiently, and bade his grandfather rise, +and not kneel to the tyrant. + +"Where must I stand?" asked he. "I'm not afraid. Father can hit a bird +upon the wing." + +"You see that lime-tree yonder," said Gessler to his soldiers; "take +the boy and bind him to it." + +"I will not be bound!" cried Walter. "I am not afraid. I'll stand +still. I won't breathe. If you bind me I'll kick!" + +"Let us bind your eyes, at least," said Rudolph der Harras. + +"Do you think I fear to see father shoot?" said Walter. "I won't stir +an eyelash. Father, show the tyrant how you can shoot. He thinks you're +going to miss. Isn't he an old donkey!" + +"Very well, young man," muttered Gessler, "we'll see who is laughing +five minutes from now." And once more he bade the crowd stand back and +leave a way clear for Tell to shoot. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +The crowd fell back, leaving a lane down which Walter walked, carrying +the apple. There was dead silence as he passed. Then the people began +to whisper excitedly to one another. + +"Shall this be done before our eyes?" said Arnold of Melchthal to +Werner Stauffacher. "Of what use was it that we swore an oath to rebel +if we permit this? Let us rise and slay the tyrant." + +Werner Stauffacher, prudent man, scratched his chin thoughtfully. + +"We-e-ll," he said, "you see, the difficulty is that we are not armed +and the soldiers _are_. There is nothing I should enjoy more than +slaying the tyrant, only I have an idea that the tyrant would slay us. +You see my point?" + +"Why were we so slow!" groaned Arnold. "We should have risen before, +and then this would never have happened. Who was it that advised us to +delay?" + +"We-e-ll," said Stauffacher (who had himself advised delay), "I can't +quite remember at the moment, but I dare say you could find out by +looking up the minutes of our last meeting. I know the motion was +carried by a majority of two votes. See! Gessler grows impatient." + +Gessler, who had been fidgeting on his horse for some time, now spoke +again, urging Tell to hurry. + +"Begin!" he cried--"begin!" + +"Immediately," replied Tell, fitting the arrow to the string. + +Gessler began to mock him once more. + +"You see now," he said, "the danger of carrying arms. I don't know if +you have ever noticed it, but arrows very often recoil on the man who +carries them. The only man who has any business to possess a weapon is +the ruler of a country--myself, for instance. A low, common fellow--if +you will excuse the description--like yourself only grows proud through +being armed, and so offends those above him. But, of course, it's no +business of mine. I am only telling you what I think about it. +Personally, I like to encourage my subjects to shoot; that is why I am +giving you such a splendid mark to shoot at. You see, Tell?" + +Tell did not reply. He raised his bow and pointed it. There was a stir +of excitement in the crowd, more particularly in that part of the crowd +which stood on his right, for, his hand trembling for the first time in +his life, Tell had pointed his arrow, not at his son, but straight into +the heart of the crowd. + +[Illustration: PLATE XI] + +"Here! Hi! That's the wrong way! More to the left!" shouted the people +in a panic, while Gessler roared with laughter, and bade Tell shoot and +chance it. + +"If you can't hit the apple or your son," he chuckled, "you can bring +down one of your dear fellow-countrymen." + +Tell lowered his bow, and a sigh of relief went through the crowd. + +"My eyes are swimming," he said; "I cannot see." + +Then he turned to the Governor. + +"I cannot shoot," he said; "bid your soldiers kill me." + +"No," said Gessler--"no, Tell. That is not at all what I want. If I had +wished my soldiers to kill you, I should not have waited for a formal +invitation from you. I have no desire to see you slain. Not at present. +I wish to see you shoot. Come, Tell, they say you can do everything, +and are afraid of nothing. Only the other day, I hear, you carried a +man, one Baumgartner--that was his name, I think--across a rough sea in +an open boat. You may remember it? I particularly wished to catch +Baumgartner, Tell. Now, this is a feat which calls for much less +courage. Simply to shoot an apple off a boy's head. A child could do +it." + +While he was speaking, Tell had been standing in silence, his hands +trembling and his eyes fixed, sometimes on the Governor, sometimes on +the sky. He now seized his quiver, and taking from it a second arrow, +placed it in his belt. Gessler watched him, but said nothing. + +"Shoot, father!" cried Walter from the other end of the lane; "I'm not +afraid." + +Tell, calm again now, raised his bow and took a steady aim. Everybody +craned forward, the front ranks in vain telling those behind that there +was nothing to be gained by pushing. Gessler bent over his horse's neck +and peered eagerly towards Walter. A great hush fell on all as Tell +released the string. + +"Phut!" went the string, and the arrow rushed through the air. + +A moment's suspense, and then a terrific cheer rose from the +spectators. + +[Illustration: PLATE XII] + +The apple had leaped from Walter's head, pierced through the centre. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Intense excitement instantly reigned. Their suspense over, the crowd +cheered again and again, shook hands with one another, and flung their +caps into the air. Everyone was delighted, for everyone was fond of +Tell and Walter. It also pleased them to see the Governor disappointed. +He had had things his own way for so long that it was a pleasant change +to see him baffled in this manner. Not since Switzerland became a +nation had the meadow outside the city gates been the scene of such +rejoicings. + +Walter had picked up the apple with the arrow piercing it, and was +showing it proudly to all his friends. + +"I told you so," he kept saying; "I knew father wouldn't hurt me. +Father's the best shot in all Switzerland." + +"That was indeed a shot!" exclaimed Ulric the smith; "it will ring +through the ages. While the mountains stand will the tale of Tell the +bowman be told." + +Rudolph der Harras took the apple from Walter and showed it to Gessler, +who had been sitting transfixed on his horse. + +"See," he said, "the arrow has passed through the very centre. It was a +master shot." + +"It was very nearly a 'Master Walter shot,'" said Rösselmann the priest +severely, fixing the Governor with a stern eye. + +Gessler made no answer. He sat looking moodily at Tell, who had dropped +his cross-bow and was standing motionless, still gazing in the +direction in which the arrow had sped. Nobody liked to be the first to +speak to him. + +"Well," said Rudolph der Harras, breaking an awkward silence, "I +suppose it's all over now? May as well be moving, eh?" + +He bit a large piece out of the apple, which he still held. Walter +uttered a piercing scream as he saw the mouthful disappear. Up till now +he had shown no signs of dismay, in spite of the peril which he had had +to face; but when he watched Rudolph eating the apple, which he +naturally looked upon as his own property, he could not keep quiet any +longer. Rudolph handed him the apple with an apology, and he began to +munch it contentedly. + +"Come with me to your mother, my boy," said Rösselmann. + +Walter took no notice, but went on eating the apple. + +Tell came to himself with a start, looked round for Walter, and began +to lead him away in the direction of his home, deaf to all the cheering +that was going on around him. + +Gessler leaned forward in his saddle. + +"Tell," he said, "a word with you." + +Tell came back. + +"Your Excellency?" + +"Before you go I wish you to explain one thing." + +"A thousand, your Excellency." + +"No, only one. When you were getting ready to shoot at the apple you +placed an arrow in the string and a second arrow in your belt." + +"A second arrow!" Tell pretended to be very much astonished, but the +pretence did not deceive the Governor. + +"Yes, a second arrow. Why was that? What did you intend to do with that +arrow, Tell?" + +Tell looked down uneasily, and twisted his bow about in his hands. + +"My lord," he said at last, "it is a bowman's custom. All archers place +a second arrow in their belt." + +"No, Tell," said Gessler, "I cannot take that answer as the truth. I +know there was some other meaning in what you did. Tell me the reason +without concealment. Why was it? Your life is safe, whatever it was, so +speak out. Why did you take out that second arrow?" + +Tell stopped fidgeting with his bow, and met the Governor's eye with a +steady gaze. + +"Since you promise me my life, your Excellency," he replied, drawing +himself up, "I will tell you." + +He drew the arrow from his belt and held it up. + +The crowd pressed forward, hanging on his words. + +"Had my first arrow," said Tell slowly, "pierced my child and not the +apple, this would have pierced you, my lord. Had I missed with my first +shot, be sure, my lord, that my second would have found its mark." + +A murmur of approval broke from the crowd as Tell thrust the arrow back +into the quiver and faced the Governor with folded arms and burning +eyes. Gessler turned white with fury. + +"Seize that man!" he shouted. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIII] + +"My lord, bethink you," whispered Rudolph der Harras; "you promised him +his life. Tell, fly!" he cried. + +Tell did not move. + +"Seize that man and bind him," roared Gessler once more. "If he +resists, cut him down." + +"I shall not resist," said Tell scornfully. "I should have known the +folly of trusting to a tyrant to keep his word. My death will at least +show my countrymen the worth of their Governor's promises." + +"Not so," replied Gessler; "no man shall say I ever broke my knightly +word. I promised you your life, and I will give you your life. But you +are a dangerous man, Tell, and against such must I guard myself. You +have told me your murderous purpose. I must look to it that that +purpose is not fulfilled. Life I promised you, and life I will give +you. But of freedom I said nothing. In my castle at Küssnacht there are +dungeons where no ray of sun or moon ever falls. Chained hand and foot +in one of these, you will hardly aim your arrows at me. It is rash, +Tell, to threaten those who have power over you. Soldiers, bind him and +lead him to my ship. I will follow, and will myself conduct him to +Küssnacht." + +The soldiers tied Tell's hands. He offered no resistance. And amidst +the groans of the people he was led away to the shore of the lake, +where Gessler's ship lay at anchor. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIV] + +"Our last chance is gone," said the people to one another. "Where shall +we look now for a leader?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The castle of Küssnacht lay on the opposite side of the lake, a mighty +mass of stone reared on a mightier crag rising sheer out of the waves, +which boiled and foamed about its foot. Steep rocks of fantastic shape +hemmed it in, and many were the vessels which perished on these, driven +thither by the frequent storms that swept over the lake. + +Gessler and his men, Tell in their midst, bound and unarmed, embarked +early in the afternoon at Flüelen, which was the name of the harbour +where the Governor's ship had been moored. Flüelen was about two miles +from Küssnacht. + +When they had arrived at the vessel they went on board, and Tell was +placed at the bottom of the hold. It was pitch dark, and rats scampered +over his body as he lay. The ropes were cast off, the sails filled, and +the ship made her way across the lake, aided by a favouring breeze. + +A large number of the Swiss people had followed Tell and his captors to +the harbour, and stood gazing sorrowfully after the ship as it +diminished in the distance. There had been whispers of an attempted +rescue, but nobody had dared to begin it, and the whispers had led to +nothing. Few of the people carried weapons, and the soldiers were clad +in armour, and each bore a long pike or a sharp sword. As Arnold of +Sewa would have said if he had been present, what the people wanted was +prudence. It was useless to attack men so thoroughly able to defend +themselves. + +Therefore the people looked on and groaned, but did nothing. + +For some time the ship sped easily on her way and through a calm sea. +Tell lay below, listening to the trampling of the sailors overhead, as +they ran about the deck, and gave up all hope of ever seeing his home +and his friends again. + +But soon he began to notice that the ship was rolling and pitching more +than it had been doing at first, and it was not long before he realized +that a very violent storm had begun. Storms sprung up very suddenly on +the lake, and made it unsafe for boats that attempted to cross it. +Often the sea was quite unruffled at the beginning of the crossing, and +was rough enough at the end to wreck the largest ship. + +Tell welcomed the storm. He had no wish to live if life meant years of +imprisonment in a dark dungeon of Castle Küssnacht. Drowning would be a +pleasant fate compared with that. He lay at the bottom of the ship, +hoping that the next wave would dash them on to a rock and send them to +the bottom of the lake. The tossing became worse and worse. + +Upon the deck Gessler was standing beside the helmsman, and gazing +anxiously across the waters at the rocks that fringed the narrow +entrance to the bay a few hundred yards to the east of Castle +Küssnacht. This bay was the only spot for miles along the shore at +which it was possible to land safely. For miles on either side the +coast was studded with great rocks, which would have dashed a ship to +pieces in a moment. It was to this bay that Gessler wished to direct +the ship. But the helmsman told him that he could not make sure of +finding the entrance, so great was the cloud of spray which covered it. +A mistake would mean shipwreck. + +"My lord," said the helmsman, "I have +neither strength nor skill to guide the helm. I do not know which way +to turn." + +"What are we to do?" asked Rudolph der Harras, who was standing near. + +The helmsman hesitated. Then he spoke, eyeing the Governor uneasily. + +"Tell could steer us through," he said, "if your lordship would but +give him the helm." + +Gessler started. + +"Tell!" he muttered. "Tell!" + +The ship drew nearer to the rocks. + +"Bring him here," said Gessler. + +Two soldiers went down to the hold and released Tell. They bade him get +up and come with them. Tell followed them on deck, and stood before the +Governor. + +"Tell," said Gessler. + +Tell looked at him without speaking. + +"Take the helm, Tell," said Gessler, "and steer the ship through those +rocks into the bay beyond, or instant death shall be your lot." + +Without a word Tell took the helmsman's place, peering keenly into the +cloud of foam before him. To right and to left he turned the vessel's +head, and to right again, into the very heart of the spray. They were +right among the rocks now, but the ship did not strike on them. +Quivering and pitching, she was hurried along, until of a sudden the +spray-cloud was behind her, and in front the calm waters of the bay. + +Gessler beckoned to the helmsman. + +"Take the helm again," he said. + +He pointed to Tell. + +"Bind him," he said to the soldiers. + +The soldiers advanced slowly, for they were loath to bind the man who +had just saved them from destruction. But the Governor's orders must he +obeyed, so they came towards Tell, carrying ropes with which to bind +him. + +Tell moved a step back. The ship was gliding past a lofty rock. It was +such a rock as Tell had often climbed when hunting the chamois. He +acted with the quickness of the hunter. Snatching up the bow and quiver +which lay on the deck, he sprang on to the bulwark of the vessel, and, +with a mighty leap, gained the rock. Another instant, and he was out of +reach. + +Gessler roared to his bowmen. + +"Shoot! shoot!" he cried. + +The bowmen hastily fitted arrow to string. They were too late. Tell was +ready before them. There was a hiss as the shaft rushed through the +air, and the next moment Gessler the Governor fell dead on the deck, +pierced through the heart. + +Tell's second arrow had found its mark, as his first had done. + +[Illustration: PLATE XV] + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +There is not much more of the story of William Tell. The death of +Gessler was a signal to the Swiss to rise in revolt, and soon the whole +country was up in arms against the Austrians. It had been chiefly the +fear of the Governor that had prevented a rising before. It had been +brewing for a long time. The people had been bound by a solemn oath to +drive the enemy out of the country. All through Switzerland +preparations for a revolution were going on, and nobles and peasants +had united. + +Directly the news arrived that the Governor was slain, meetings of the +people were held in every town in Switzerland, and it was resolved to +begin the revolution without delay. All the fortresses that Gessler had +built during his years of rule were carried by assault on the same +night. The last to fall was one which had only been begun a short time +back, and the people who had been forced to help to build it spent a +very pleasant hour pulling down the stones which had cost them such +labour to put in their place. Even the children helped. It was a great +treat to them to break what they pleased without being told not to. + +"See," said Tell, as he watched them, "in years to come, when these +same children are gray-haired, they will remember this night as freshly +as they will remember it to-morrow." + +A number of people rushed up, bearing the pole which Gessler's soldiers +had set up in the meadow. The hat was still on top of it, nailed to the +wood by Tell's arrow. + +"Here's the hat!" shouted Ruodi--"the hat to which we were to bow!" + +"What shall we do with it?" cried several voices. + +"Destroy it! Burn it!" said others. "To the flames with this emblem of +tyranny!" + +But Tell stopped them. + +"Let us preserve it," he said. "Gessler set it up to be a means +of enslaving the country; we will set it up as a memorial of our +newly-gained liberty. Nobly is fulfilled the oath we swore to drive +the tyrants from our land. Let the pole mark the spot where the +revolution finished." + +"But _is_ it finished?" said Arnold of Melchthal. "It is a nice +point. When the Emperor of Austria hears that we have killed his friend +Gessler, and burnt down all his fine new fortresses, will he not come +here to seek revenge?" + +"He will," said Tell. "And let him come. And let him bring all his +mighty armies. We have driven out the enemy that was in our land. We +will meet and drive away the enemy that comes from another country. +Switzerland is not easy to attack. There are but a few mountain passes +by which the foe can approach. We will stop these with our bodies. And +one great strength we have: we are united. And united we need fear no +foe." + +"Hurrah!" shouted everybody. + +"But who is this that approaches?" said Tell. "He seems excited. +Perhaps he brings news." + +It was Rösselmann the pastor, and he brought stirring news. + +"These are strange times in which we live," said Rösselmann, coming up. + +"Why, what has happened?" cried everybody. + +"Listen, and be amazed." + +"Why, what's the matter?" + +"The Emperor----" + +"Yes?" + +"The Emperor is dead." + +"What! dead?" + +"Dead!" + +"Impossible! How came you by the news?" + +"John Müller of Schaffhausen brought it. And he is a truthful man." + +"But how did it happen?" + +"As the Emperor rode from Stein to Baden the lords of Eschenbach and +Tegerfelden, jealous, it is said, of his power, fell upon him with +their spears. His bodyguard were on the other side of a stream--the +Emperor had just crossed it--and could not come to his assistance. He +died instantly." + +By the death of the Emperor the revolution in Switzerland was enabled +to proceed without check. The successor of the Emperor had too much to +do in defending himself against the slayers of his father to think of +attacking the Swiss, and by the time he was at leisure they were too +strong to be attacked. So the Swiss became free. + +As for William Tell, he retired to his home, and lived there very +happily ever afterwards with his wife and his two sons, who in a few +years became very nearly as skilful in the use of the cross-bow as +their father. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + + Some say the tale related here + Is amplified and twisted; + Some say it isn't very clear + That William Tell existed; + Some say he freed his country _so_, + The Governor demolished. + Perhaps he did. I only know + That taxes aren't abolished! + + + + + + * * * * * + + +[The Illustrations and accompanying descriptive verses] + + + + +[PROLOGUE.] + + The Swiss, against their Austrian foes, + Had ne'er a soul to lead 'em, + Till Tell, as you've heard tell, arose + And guided them to freedom. + Tell's tale we tell again--an act + For which pray no one scold us-- + This tale of Tell we tell, in fact, + As this Tell tale was told us. + + + + +PLATE I. + + + Beneath a tyrant foreign yoke, + How love of freedom waxes! + (Especially when foreign folk + Come round collecting taxes.) + The Swiss, held down by Gessler's fist, + Would fain have used evasion; + Yet none there seemed who could resist + His methods of persuasion. + +[Illustration: GESSLER'S METHODS OF PERSUASION] + + + + +PLATE II. + + + And pride so filled this Gessler's soul + (A monarch's pride outclassing), + He stuck his hat up on a pole, + That all might bow in passing. + Then rose the patriot, William Tell-- + "We've groaned 'neath Austria's sway first; + Must we be ruled by poles as well? + I've just a word to say first!" + +[Illustration: THEY WOULD MARCH ABOUT, BEATING TIN CANS AND SHOUTING] + + + + +PLATE III. + + + The crowd about the pole at morn + Used various "persuaders"-- + They flung old cans (to prove their scorn + Of all tin-pot invaders); + And cabbage-stumps were freely dealt, + And apples (inexpensive), + And rotten eggs (to show they felt + A foreign yoke offensive). + +[Illustration: AN EGG FLEW ACROSS THE MEADOW, AND BURST OVER LEUTHOLD'S +SHOULDER] + + + + +PLATE IV. + + + Said William Tell, "And has this cuss + For conquest such a passion + He needs must set his cap at us + In this exalted fashion?" + And then the people gave a cry, + 'Twixt joy and apprehension, + To see him pass the symbol by + With studied inattention! + +[Illustration: "HERE! HI!" SHOUTED THE SOLDIERS, "STOP!"] + + + + +PLATE V. + + + At first the sentinel, aghast, + Glared like an angry dumb thing; + Then "Hi!" he shouted, "not so fast, + You're overlooking something!" + The sturdy Tell made no response; + Then through the hills resounded + A mighty thwack upon his sconce-- + The people were astounded. + +[Illustration: THEY SAW FRIESSHARDT RAISE HIS PIKE, AND BRING IT DOWN +WITH ALL HIS FORCE ON TELL'S HEAD] + + + + +PLATE VI. + + + Could Tell an insult such as this + Ignore or pass? I doubt it! + No, no; that patriotic Swiss + Was very cross about it. + The people, interested now, + Exclaimed, "Here! Stop a minute + If there's to be a jolly row, + By Jingo! we'll be in it!" + +[Illustration: "LOOK HERE!" HE BEGAN. "LOOK THERE!" SAID FRIESSHARDT] + + + + +PLATE VII. + + + Said Tell, "This satrap of the Duke + Is sore in need of gumption; + With my good bow I will rebuke + Such arrow-gant presumption." + "Stand back!" the soldier says, says he; + "This roughness is unseemly!" + The people cried, "We _will_ be FREE!" + And so they were--extremely! + +[Illustration: FRIESSHARDT RUSHED TO STOP HIM] + + + + +PLATE VIII. + + + They dealt that soldier thump on thump + (He hadn't any notion, + When on Tell's head he raised that bump, + Of raising this commotion); + Tell's arrow sped, the people crowed, + And loudly cheered his action; + While Tell's expressive features showed + A certain satisfaction. + +[Illustration: THE CROWD DANCED AND SHOUTED] + + + + +PLATE IX. + + + Now, when the cat's away, the mice + Are very enterprising, + But cats return, and, in a trice-- + Well, Gessler nipped that rising. + And when those soldiers lodged complaint + (Which truly didn't lack ground), + The people practised self-restraint + And fell into the background. + +[Illustration: "COME, COME, COME!" SAID GESSLER, "TELL ME ALL ABOUT +IT"] + + + + +PLATE X. + + + And Tell, before the tyrant hailed, + No patriot you'd have guessed him, + For even his stout bosom quailed + When Gessler thus addressed him:-- + "As you're the crack shot of these Swiss + (I've often heard it said so), + Suppose you take a shot at this, + Placed on your youngster's head--so!" + +[Illustration: "I HAVE HERE AN APPLE"] + + + + +PLATE XI. + + + "The bearing," as they say, "of that + Lay in the apple-cation," + And nobody will wonder at + A parent's agitation; + That anguish filled Tell's bosom proud + Needs scarcely to be stated, + And, it will be observed, the crowd + Was also agitated. + +[Illustration: THERE WAS A STIR OF EXCITEMENT IN THE CROWD] + + + + +PLATE XII. + + + Said Gessler, "This is all my eye! + Come, hurry up and _buck_ up! + Remember, if you miss, you die-- + That ought to keep your pluck up. + The flying arrow may, no doubt, + Your offspring's bosom enter--" + But here there rose a mighty shout: + "By George! He's scored a centre!" + +[Illustration: A MOMENT'S SUSPENSE, AND THEN A TERRIFIC CHEER AROSE +FROM THE SPECTATORS] + + + + +PLATE XIII. + + + But, as the arrow cleft the core, + Cried G. with indignation, + "What was the second arrow for? + Come, no e-quiver-cation! + You had a second in your fist." + Said Tell, the missile grippin', + "This shaft (had I that apple missed) + Was meant for you, my pippin!" + +[Illustration: "SEIZE THAT MAN!" HE SHOUTED] + + + + +PLATE XIV. + + + With rage the tyrant said, said he, + "It's time to stop this prating; + I find your style of repartee + Extremely irritating. + You'll hang for this, be pleased to note." + On this they bound and gagged him + (For Gessler's castle booked by boat), + And through the village dragged him. + +[Illustration: HE WAS LED AWAY TO THE SHORE OF THE LAKE] + + + + +PLATE XV. + + + But slips between the cup and lip, + When least expected, peer through-- + A storm arose upon the trip + Which Tell alone could steer through. + Thus, of all hands he quickly got + (As you may see) the upper, + At Gessler took a parting shot, + And hurried home to supper. + +[Illustration: TELL'S SECOND ARROW HAD FOUND ITS MARK] + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + + Some say the tale related here + Is amplified and twisted; + Some say it isn't very clear + That William Tell existed; + Some say he freed his country <i>so</i>, + The Governor demolished. + Perhaps he did. I only know + That taxes aren't abolished! + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of William Tell Told Again, by +P. G. Wodehouse and John W. Houghton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN *** + +***** This file should be named 7298-8.txt or 7298-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/2/9/7298/ + +Produced by Branko Collin, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, and the +Oxford College Library of Emory University + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Houghton + and Philip Dadd and the book of the same name based on the former by P. G. + Wodehouse + </title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .75em; margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; text-align: justify; font-size: 80%; font-style: italic;} + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + .xx-small {font-size: 60%;} + .x-small {font-size: 75%;} + .small {font-size: 85%;} + .large {font-size: 115%;} + .x-large {font-size: 130%;} + .indent5 { margin-left: 5%;} + .indent10 { margin-left: 10%;} + .indent15 { margin-left: 15%;} + .indent20 { margin-left: 20%;} + .indent25 { margin-left: 25%;} + .indent30 { margin-left: 30%;} + .indent35 { margin-left: 35%;} + .indent40 { margin-left: 40%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; right: 1%; font-size: 0.6em; + font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; + text-align: right; background-color: #FFFACD; + border: 1px solid; padding: 0.3em;text-indent: 0em;} + .side { float: left; font-size: 75%; width: 15%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + .head { float: left; font-size: 90%; width: 98%; padding-left: 0.8em; + border-left: dashed thin; text-align: center; + text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; + font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;} + p.pfirst, p.noindent {text-indent: 0} + span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 0.8 } + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of William Tell Told Again, by +P. G. Wodehouse and John W. Houghton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: William Tell Told Again + +Author: P. G. Wodehouse + John W. Houghton + +Illustrator: Philip Dadd + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7298] +First posted: April 9, 2003 +Last Updated: February 24, 2020 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Branko Collin, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles Franks +David Widger and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, +and the Oxford College Library of Emory University + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + [Transcriber's note: <i>William Tell Told Again</i> is two children's + books in one. <a href="#picturebook">One is a picture book</a>--16 + full-color illustrations by Philip Dadd described in verse by John W. + Houghton. The other is <a href="#novel">a humorous novel</a> by P. G. + Wodehouse, based on the picture book. The novel has a lengthier storyline, + a more intricate plot, and more characterization. The bound volume + intermingled the picture book with the novel, illustrations and poems + appearing at regular intervals. Most pictures and verses were distant from + the page of the novel that they reflected. + </p> + <p> + For this HTML version, thumbnail illustrations have been inserted + following the paragraph in the novel that describes the events being + illustrated. The verse descriptions of the illustrations have been moved + to the end of the novel, so as not to disrupt the story. Each verse also + has a thumbnail illustration. Click on the thumbnail for a larger + illustration.] + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/frontispiece.jpeg" alt="image001" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/frontispiece.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt=" " /> + </a> + </h5> + <h1 id="novel"> + William Tell Told Again + </h1> + <p> + By P. G. Wodehouse + </p> + <p> + 1904 + </p> + <p> + With Illustrations in Colour by Philip Dadd <br />Described in Verse by + John W. Houghton + </p> + <p class="blank"> + To Biddy O'Sullivan for a Christmas Present + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + List of Illustrations + </h2> + <ul> + <li> + Sometimes it was only a bird [Frontispiece] + </li> + <li> + Gessler's methods of persuasion [Plate I] + </li> + <li> + They would march about, beating tin cans and shouting [Plate II] + </li> + <li> + An egg flew across the meadow, and burst over Leuthold's shoulder [Plate + III] + </li> + <li> + "Here! Hi!" shouted the soldiers, "Stop!" [Plate IV] + </li> + <li> + They saw Friesshardt raise his pike, and bring it down with all his + force on Tell's head [Plate V] + </li> + <li> + "Look here!" he began. "Look there!" said Friesshardt [Plate VI] + </li> + <li> + Friesshardt rushed to stop him [Plate VII] + </li> + <li> + The crowd danced and shouted [Plate VIII] + </li> + <li> + "Come, come, come!" said Gessler, "tell me all about it" [Plate IX] + </li> + <li> + "I have here an apple" [Plate X] + </li> + <li> + There was a stir of excitement in the crowd [Plate XI] + </li> + <li> + A moment's suspense, and then a terrific cheer arose from the spectators + [Plate XII] + </li> + <li> + "Seize that man!" he shouted [Plate XIII] + </li> + <li> + He was led away to the shore of the lake [Plate XIV] + </li> + <li> + Tell's second arrow had found its mark [Plate XV] + </li> + </ul> + <div class="blank"> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Swiss, against their Austrian foes, + Had ne'er a soul to lead 'em, +Till Tell, as you've heard tell, arose + And guided them to freedom. +Tell's tale we tell again--an act + For which pray no one scold us-- +This tale of Tell we tell, in fact, + As this Tell tale was told us. +</pre> + </div> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter I + </h2> + <p> + Once upon a time, more years ago than anybody can remember, before the + first hotel had been built or the first Englishman had taken a photograph + of Mont Blanc and brought it home to be pasted in an album and shown after + tea to his envious friends, Switzerland belonged to the Emperor of + Austria, to do what he liked with. + </p> + <p> + One of the first things the Emperor did was to send his friend Hermann + Gessler to govern the country. Gessler was not a nice man, and it soon + became plain that he would never make himself really popular with the + Swiss. The point on which they disagreed in particular was the question of + taxes. The Swiss, who were a simple and thrifty people, objected to paying + taxes of any sort. They said they wanted to spend their money on all kinds + of other things. Gessler, on the other hand, wished to put a tax on + everything, and, being Governor, he did it. He made everyone who owned a + flock of sheep pay a certain sum of money to him; and if the farmer sold + his sheep and bought cows, he had to pay rather more money to Gessler for + the cows than he had paid for the sheep. Gessler also taxed bread, and + biscuits, and jam, and buns, and lemonade, and, in fact, everything he + could think of, till the people of Switzerland determined to complain. + They appointed Walter Fürst, who had red hair and looked fierce; Werner + Stauffacher, who had gray hair and was always wondering how he ought to + pronounce his name; and Arnold of Melchthal, who had light-yellow hair and + was supposed to know a great deal about the law, to make the complaint. + They called on the Governor one lovely morning in April, and were shown + into the Hall of Audience. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Gessler, "and what's the matter now?" + </p> + <p> + The other two pushed Walter Fürst forward because he looked fierce, and + they thought he might frighten the Governor. + </p> + <p> + Walter Fürst coughed. + </p> + <p> + "Well?" asked Gessler. + </p> + <p> + "Er--ahem!" said Walter Fürst. + </p> + <p> + "That's the way," whispered Werner; "<i>give</i> it him!" + </p> + <p> + "Er--ahem!" said Walter Fürst again; "the fact is, your Governorship--" + </p> + <p> + "It's a small point," interrupted Gessler, "but I'm generally called 'your + Excellency.' Yes?" + </p> + <p> + "The fact is, your Excellency, it seems to the people of Switzerland--" + </p> + <p> + "--Whom I represent," whispered Arnold of Melchthal. + </p> + <p> + "--Whom I represent, that things want changing." + </p> + <p> + "What things?" inquired Gessler. + </p> + <p> + "The taxes, your excellent Governorship." + </p> + <p> + "Change the taxes? Why, don't the people of Switzerland think there are + enough taxes?" + </p> + <p> + Arnold of Melchthal broke in hastily. + </p> + <p> + "They think there are many too many," he said. "What with the tax on + sheep, and the tax on cows, and the tax on bread, and the tax on tea, and + the tax--" + </p> + <p> + "I know, <i>I</i> know," Gessler interrupted; "I know all the taxes. Come + to the point. What about 'em?" + </p> + <p> + "Well, your Excellency, there are too many of them." + </p> + <p> + "Too many!" + </p> + <p> + "Yes. And we are not going to put up with it any longer!" shouted Arnold + of Melchthal. + </p> + <p> + Gessler leaned forward in his throne. + </p> + <p> + "Might I ask you to repeat that remark?" he said. + </p> + <p> + "We are not going to put up with it any longer!" + </p> + <p> + Gessler sat back again with an ugly smile. + </p> + <p> + "Oh," he said--"oh, indeed! You aren't, aren't you! Desire the Lord High + Executioner to step this way," he added to a soldier who stood beside him. + </p> + <p> + The Lord High Executioner entered the presence. He was a kind-looking old + gentleman with white hair, and he wore a beautiful black robe, tastefully + decorated with death's-heads. + </p> + <p> + "Your Excellency sent for me?" he said. + </p> + <p> + "Just so," replied Gessler. "This gentleman here"--he pointed to Arnold of + Melchthal--"says he does not like taxes, and that he isn't going to put up + with them any longer." + </p> + <p> + "Tut-tut!" murmured the executioner. + </p> + <p> + "See what you can do for him." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, your Excellency. Robert," he cried, "is the oil on the boil?" + </p> + <p> + "Just this minute boiled over," replied a voice from the other side of the + door. + </p> + <p> + "Then bring it in, and mind you don't spill any." + </p> + <p> + Enter Robert, in a suit of armour and a black mask, carrying a large + caldron, from which the steam rose in great clouds. + </p> + <p> + "Now, sir, if you please," said the executioner politely to Arnold of + Melchthal. + </p> + <p> + Arnold looked at the caldron. + </p> + <p> + "Why, it's hot," he said. + </p> + <p> + "Warmish," admitted the executioner. + </p> + <p> + "It's against the law to threaten a man with hot oil." + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_01.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_01.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + "You may bring an action against me," said the executioner. "Now, sir, if + <i>you</i> please. We are wasting time. The forefinger of your left hand, + if I may trouble you. Thank you. I am obliged." + </p> + <p> + He took Arnold's left hand, and dipped the tip of the first finger into + the oil. + </p> + <p> + "Ow!" cried Arnold, jumping. + </p> + <p> + "Don't let him see he's hurting you," whispered Werner Stauffacher. + "Pretend you don't notice it." + </p> + <p> + Gessler leaned forward again. + </p> + <p> + "Have your views on taxes changed at all?" he asked. "Do you see my point + of view more clearly now?" + </p> + <p> + Arnold admitted that he thought that, after all, there might be something + to be said for it. + </p> + <p> + "That's right," said the Governor. "And the tax on sheep? You don't object + to that?" + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "And the tax on cows?" + </p> + <p> + "I like it." + </p> + <p> + "And those on bread, and buns, and lemonade?" + </p> + <p> + "I enjoy them." + </p> + <p> + "Excellent. In fact, you're quite contented?" + </p> + <p> + "Quite." + </p> + <p> + "And you think the rest of the people are?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, quite, quite!" + </p> + <p> + "And do you think the same?" he asked of Walter and Werner. + </p> + <p> + "Oh <i>yes</i>, your Excellency!" they cried. + </p> + <p> + "Then <i>that's</i> all right," said Gessler. "I was sure you would be + sensible about it. Now, if you will kindly place in the tambourine which + the gentleman on my left is presenting to you a mere trifle to compensate + us for our trouble in giving you an audience, and if you" (to Arnold of + Melchthal) "will contribute an additional trifle for use of the Imperial + boiling oil, I think we shall all be satisfied. You've done it? <i>That's</i> + right. Good-bye, and mind the step as you go out." + </p> + <p> + And, as he finished this speech, the three spokesmen of the people of + Switzerland were shown out of the Hall of Audience. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter II + </h2> + <p> + They were met in the street outside by a large body of their + fellow-citizens, who had accompanied them to the Palace, and who had been + spending the time since their departure in listening by turns at the + keyhole of the front-door. But as the Hall of Audience was at the other + side of the Palace, and cut off from the front-door by two other doors, a + flight of stairs, and a long passage, they had not heard very much of what + had gone on inside, and they surrounded the three spokesmen as they came + out, and questioned them eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "Has he taken off the tax on jam?" asked Ulric the smith. + </p> + <p> + "What is he going to do about the tax on mixed biscuits?" shouted Klaus + von der Flue, who was a chimney-sweep of the town and loved mixed + biscuits. + </p> + <p> + "Never mind about tea and mixed biscuits!" cried his neighbour, Meier of + Sarnen. "What I want to know is whether we shall have to pay for keeping + sheep any more." + </p> + <p> + "What <i>did</i> the Governor say?" asked Jost Weiler, a practical man, + who liked to go straight to the point. + </p> + <p> + The three spokesmen looked at one another a little doubtfully. + </p> + <p> + "We-e-ll," said Werner Stauffacher at last, "as a matter of fact, he + didn't actually <i>say</i> very much. It was more what he <i>did</i>, if + you understand me, than what he said." + </p> + <p> + "I should describe His Excellency the Governor," said Walter Fürst, "as a + man who has got a way with him--a man who has got all sorts of arguments + at his finger-tips." + </p> + <p> + At the mention of finger-tips, Arnold of Melchthal uttered a sharp howl. + </p> + <p> + "In short," continued Walter, "after a few minutes' very interesting + conversation he made us see that it really wouldn't do, and that we must + go on paying the taxes as before." + </p> + <p> + There was a dead silence for several minutes, while everybody looked at + everybody else in dismay. + </p> + <p> + The silence was broken by Arnold of Sewa. Arnold of Sewa had been + disappointed at not being chosen as one of the three spokesmen, and he + thought that if he had been so chosen all this trouble would not have + occurred. + </p> + <p> + "The fact is," he said bitterly, "that you three have failed to do what + you were sent to do. I mention no names--far from it--but I don't mind + saying that there are some people in this town who would have given a + better account of themselves. What you want in little matters of this sort + is, if I may say so, tact. Tact; that's what you want. Of course, if you + <i>will</i> go rushing into the Governor's presence--" + </p> + <p> + "But we didn't rush," said Walter Fürst. + </p> + <p> + "--Shouting out that you want the taxes abolished--" + </p> + <p> + "But we didn't shout," said Walter Fürst. + </p> + <p> + "I really cannot speak if I am to be constantly interrupted," said Arnold + of Sewa severely. "What I say is, that you ought to employ tact. Tact; + that's what you want. If I had been chosen to represent the Swiss people + in this affair--I am not saying I ought to have been, mind you; I merely + say <i>if</i> I had been--I should have acted rather after the following + fashion: Walking firmly, but not defiantly, into the tyrant's presence, I + should have broken the ice with some pleasant remark about the weather. + The conversation once started, the rest would have been easy. I should + have said that I hoped His Excellency had enjoyed a good dinner. Once on + the subject of food, and it would have been the simplest of tasks to show + him how unnecessary taxes on food were, and the whole affair would have + been pleasantly settled while you waited. I do not imply that the Swiss + people would have done better to have chosen me as their representative. I + merely say that that is how I should have acted had they done so." + </p> + <p> + And Arnold of Sewa twirled his moustache and looked offended. His friends + instantly suggested that he should be allowed to try where the other three + had failed, and the rest of the crowd, beginning to hope once more, took + up the cry. The result was that the visitors' bell of the Palace was rung + for the second time. Arnold of Sewa went in, and the door was banged + behind him. + </p> + <p> + Five minutes later he came out, sucking the first finger of his left hand. + </p> + <p> + "No," he said; "it can't be done. The tyrant has convinced me." + </p> + <p> + "I knew he would," said Arnold of Melchthal. + </p> + <p> + "Then I think you might have warned me," snapped Arnold of Sewa, dancing + with the pain of his burnt finger. + </p> + <p> + "Was it hot?" + </p> + <p> + "Boiling." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" + </p> + <p> + "Then he really won't let us off the taxes?" asked the crowd in + disappointed voices. + </p> + <p> + "No." + </p> + <p> + "Then the long and short of it is," said Walter Fürst, drawing a deep + breath, "that we must rebel!" + </p> + <p> + "Rebel?" cried everybody. + </p> + <p> + "Rebel!" repeated Walter firmly. + </p> + <p> + "We will!" cried everybody. + </p> + <p> + "Down with the tyrant!" shouted Walter Fürst. + </p> + <p> + "Down with the taxes!" shrieked the crowd. + </p> + <p> + A scene of great enthusiasm followed. The last words were spoken by Werner + Stauffacher. + </p> + <p> + "We want a leader," he said. + </p> + <p> + "I don't wish to thrust myself forward," began Arnold of Sewa, "but I must + say, if it comes to leading--" + </p> + <p> + "And I know the very man for the job," said Werner Stauffacher. "William + Tell!" + </p> + <p> + "Hurrah for William Tell!" roared the crowd, and, taking the time from + Werner Stauffacher, they burst into the grand old Swiss chant which runs + as follows: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "For he's a jolly good fellow! + For he's a jolly good fellow!! + For he's a jolly good fe-e-ll-ow!!!! + And so say all of us!" +</pre> + <p> + And having sung this till they were all quite hoarse, they went off to + their beds to get a few hours' sleep before beginning the labours of the + day. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter III + </h2> + <p> + In a picturesque little châlet high up in the mountains, covered with snow + and edelweiss (which is a flower that grows in the Alps, and you are not + allowed to pick it), dwelt William Tell, his wife Hedwig, and his two + sons, Walter and William. Such a remarkable man was Tell that I think I + must devote a whole chapter to him and his exploits. There was really + nothing he could not do. He was the best shot with the cross-bow in the + whole of Switzerland. He had the courage of a lion, the sure-footedness of + a wild goat, the agility of a squirrel, and a beautiful beard. If you + wanted someone to hurry across desolate ice-fields, and leap from crag to + crag after a chamois, Tell was the man for your money. If you wanted a man + to say rude things to the Governor, it was to Tell that you applied first. + Once when he was hunting in the wild ravine of Schächenthal, where men + were hardly ever to be seen, he met the Governor face to face. There was + no way of getting past. On one side the rocky wall rose sheer up, while + below the river roared. Directly Gessler caught sight of Tell striding + along with his cross-bow, his cheeks grew pale and his knees tottered, and + he sat down on a rock feeling very unwell indeed. + </p> + <p> + "Aha!" said Tell. "Oho! so it's you, is it? <i>I</i> know you. And a nice + sort of person you are, with your taxes on bread and sheep, aren't you! + You'll come to a bad end one of these days, that's what will happen to + you. Oh, you old reprobate! Pooh!" And he had passed on with a look of + scorn, leaving Gessler to think over what he had said. And Gessler ever + since had had a grudge against him, and was only waiting for a chance of + paying him out. + </p> + <p> + "Mark my words," said Tell's wife, Hedwig, when her husband told her about + it after supper that night--"mark my words, he will never forgive you." + </p> + <p> + "I will avoid him," said Tell. "He will not seek me." + </p> + <p> + "Well, mind you do," was Hedwig's reply. + </p> + <p> + On another occasion, when the Governor's soldiers were chasing a friend of + his, called Baumgarten, and when Baumgarten's only chance of escape was to + cross the lake during a fierce storm, and when the ferryman, sensibly + remarking, "What! must I rush into the jaws of death? No man that hath his + senses would do that!" refused to take out his boat even for twice his + proper fare, and when the soldiers rode down to seize their prey with + dreadful shouts, Tell jumped into the boat, and, rowing with all his + might, brought his friend safe across after a choppy passage. Which made + Gessler the Governor still more angry with him. + </p> + <p> + But it was as a marksman that Tell was so extraordinary. There was nobody + in the whole of the land who was half so skilful. He attended every + meeting for miles around where there was a shooting competition, and every + time he won first prize. Even his rivals could not help praising his + skill. "Behold!" they would say, "Tell is quite the pot-hunter," meaning + by the last word a man who always went in for every prize, and always won + it. And Tell would say, "Yes, truly am I a pot-hunter, for I hunt to fill + the family pot." And so he did. He never came home empty-handed from the + chase. Sometimes it was a chamois that he brought back, and then the + family had it roasted on the first day, cold on the next four, and minced + on the sixth, with sippets of toast round the edge of the dish. Sometimes + it was only a bird (as on the cover of this book), and then Hedwig would + say, "Mark my words, this fowl will not go round." But it always did, and + it never happened that there was not even a fowl to eat. + </p> + + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/frontispiece.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/frontispiece.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + <p> + In fact, Tell and his family lived a very happy, contented life, in spite + of the Governor Gessler and his taxes. + </p> + <p> + Tell was very patriotic. He always believed that some day the Swiss would + rise and rebel against the tyranny of the Governor, and he used to drill + his two children so as to keep them always in a state of preparation. They + would march about, beating tin cans and shouting, and altogether enjoying + themselves immensely, though Hedwig, who did not like noise, and wanted + Walter and William to help her with the housework, made frequent + complaints. "Mark my words," she would say, "this growing spirit of + militarism in the young and foolish will lead to no good," meaning that + boys who played at soldiers instead of helping their mother to dust the + chairs and scrub the kitchen floor would in all probability come to a bad + end. But Tell would say, "Who hopes to fight his way through life must be + prepared to wield arms. Carry on, my boys!" And they carried on. It was to + this man that the Swiss people had determined to come for help. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_02.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_02.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter IV + </h2> + <p> + Talking matters over in the inn of the town, the Glass and Glacier, the + citizens came to the conclusion that they ought to appoint three spokesmen + to go and explain to Tell just what they wanted him to do. + </p> + <p> + "I don't wish to seem to boast at all," said Arnold of Sewa, "but I think + I had better be one of the three." + </p> + <p> + "I was thinking," said Werner Stauffacher, "that it would be a pity always + to be chopping and changing. Why not choose the same three as were sent to + Gessler?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't desire to be unpleasant at all," replied Arnold of Sewa, "but I + must be forgiven for reminding the honourable gentleman who has just + spoken that he and his equally honourable friends did not meet with the + best of success when they called upon the Governor." + </p> + <p> + "Well, and you didn't either!" snapped Arnold of Melchthal, whose finger + still hurt him, and made him a little bad-tempered. + </p> + <p> + "That," said Arnold of Sewa, "I put down entirely to the fact that you and + your friends, by not exercising tact, irritated the Governor, and made him + unwilling to listen to anybody else. Nothing is more important in these + affairs than tact. That's what you want--tact. But have it your own way. + Don't mind <i>me!</i>" + </p> + <p> + And the citizens did not. They chose Werner Stauffacher, Arnold of + Melchthal, and Walter Fürst, and, having drained their glasses, the three + trudged up the steep hill which led to Tell's house. + </p> + <p> + It had been agreed that everyone should wait at the Glass and Glacier + until the three spokesmen returned, in order that they might hear the + result of their mission. Everybody was very anxious. A revolution without + Tell would be quite impossible, and it was not unlikely that Tell might + refuse to be their leader. The worst of a revolution is that, if it fails, + the leader is always executed as an example to the rest. And many people + object to being executed, however much it may set a good example to their + friends. On the other hand, Tell was a brave man and a patriot, and might + be only too eager to try to throw off the tyrant's yoke, whatever the + risk. They had waited about an hour, when they saw the three spokesmen + coming down the hill. Tell was not with them, a fact which made the + citizens suspect that he had refused their offer. The first thing a man + does when he has accepted the leadership of a revolution is to come and + plot with his companions. + </p> + <p> + "Well?" said everybody eagerly, as the three arrived. + </p> + <p> + Werner Stauffacher shook his head. + </p> + <p> + "Ah," said Arnold of Sewa, "I see what it is. He has refused. You didn't + exercise tact, and he refused." + </p> + <p> + "We <i>did</i> exercise tact," said Stauffacher indignantly; "but he would + not be persuaded. It was like this: We went to the house and knocked at + the door. Tell opened it. 'Good-morning,' I said. + </p> + <p> + "'Good-morning,' said he. 'Take a seat.' + </p> + <p> + "I took a seat. + </p> + <p> + "'My heart is full,' I said, 'and longs to speak with you.' I thought that + a neat way of putting it." + </p> + <p> + The company murmured approval. + </p> + <p> + "'A heavy heart,' said Tell, 'will not grow light with words.'" + </p> + <p> + "Not bad that!" murmured Jost Weiler. "Clever way of putting things, Tell + has got." + </p> + <p> + "'Yet words,' I said, 'might lead us on to deeds.'" + </p> + <p> + "Neat," said Jost Weiler--"very neat. Yes?" + </p> + <p> + "To which Tell's extraordinary reply was: 'The only thing to do is to sit + still.' + </p> + <p> + "'What!' I said; 'bear in silence things unbearable?' + </p> + <p> + "'Yes,' said Tell; 'to peaceable men peace is gladly granted. When the + Governor finds that his oppression does not make us revolt, he will grow + tired of oppressing.'" + </p> + <p> + "And what did you say to that?" asked Ulric the smith. + </p> + <p> + "I said he did not know the Governor if he thought he could ever grow + tired of oppressing. 'We might do much,' I said, 'if we held fast + together. Union is strength,' I said. + </p> + <p> + "'The strong,' said Tell, 'is strongest when he stands alone.' + </p> + <p> + "'Then our country must not count on thee,' I said, 'when in despair she + stands on self-defence?' + </p> + <p> + "'Oh, well,' he said, 'hardly that, perhaps. I don't want to desert you. + What I mean to say is, I'm no use as a plotter or a counsellor and that + sort of thing. Where I come out strong is in deeds. So don't invite me to + your meetings and make me speak, and that sort of thing; but if you want a + man to <i>do</i> anything--why, that's where I shall come in, you see. + Just write if you want me--a postcard will do--and you will not find + William Tell hanging back. No, sir.' And with those words he showed us + out." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Jost Weiler, "I call that encouraging. All we have to do now + is to plot. Let us plot." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, let's!" shouted everybody. + </p> + <p> + Ulric the smith rapped for silence on the table. + </p> + <p> + "Gentlemen," he said, "our friend Mr. Klaus von der Flue will now read a + paper on 'Governors--their drawbacks, and how to get rid of them.' + Silence, gentlemen, please. Now, then, Klaus, old fellow, speak up and get + it over." + </p> + <p> + And the citizens settled down without further delay to a little serious + plotting. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter V + </h2> + <p> + A few days after this, Hedwig gave Tell a good talking to on the subject + of his love for adventure. He was sitting at the door of his house mending + an axe. Hedwig, as usual, was washing up. Walter and William were playing + with a little cross-bow not far off. + </p> + <p> + "Father," said Walter. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my boy?" + </p> + <p> + "My bow-string has bust." ("Bust" was what all Swiss boys said when they + meant "broken.") + </p> + <p> + "You must mend it yourself, my boy," said Tell. "A sportsman always helps + himself." + </p> + <p> + "What <i>I</i> say," said Hedwig, bustling out of the house, "is that a + boy of his age has no business to be shooting. I don't like it." + </p> + <p> + "Nobody can shoot well if he does not begin to practise early. Why, when I + was a boy--I remember on one occasion, when--" + </p> + <p> + "What <i>I</i> say," interrupted Hedwig, "is that a boy ought not to want + always to be shooting, and what not. He ought to stay at home and help his + mother. And I wish you would set them a better example." + </p> + <p> + "Well, the fact is, you know," said Tell, "I don't think Nature meant me + to be a stay-at-home and that sort of thing. I couldn't be a herdsman if + you paid me. I shouldn't know what to do. No; everyone has his special + line, and mine is hunting. Now, I <i>can</i> hunt." + </p> + <p> + "A nasty, dangerous occupation," said Hedwig. "I don't like to hear of + your being lost on desolate ice-fields, and leaping from crag to crag, and + what not. Some day, mark my words, if you are not careful, you will fall + down a precipice, or be overtaken by an avalanche, or the ice will break + while you are crossing it. There are a thousand ways in which you might + get hurt." + </p> + <p> + "A man of ready wit with a quick eye," replied Tell complacently, "never + gets hurt. The mountain has no terror for her children. I am a child of + the mountain." + </p> + <p> + "You are certainly a child!" snapped Hedwig. "It is no use my arguing with + you." + </p> + <p> + "Not very much," agreed Tell, "for I am just off to the town. I have an + appointment with your papa and some other gentlemen." + </p> + <p> + (I forgot to say so before, but Hedwig was the daughter of Walter Fürst.) + </p> + <p> + "Now, <i>what</i> are you and papa plotting?" asked Hedwig. "I know there + is something going on. I suspected it when papa brought Werner Stauffacher + and the other man here, and you wouldn't let me listen. What is it? Some + dangerous scheme, I suppose?" + </p> + <p> + "Now, how in the world do you get those sort of ideas into your head?" + Tell laughed. "Dangerous scheme! As if I should plot dangerous schemes + with your papa!" + </p> + <p> + "I know," said Hedwig. "You can't deceive <i>me!</i> There is a plot afoot + against the Governor, and you are in it." + </p> + <p> + "A man must help his country." + </p> + <p> + "They're sure to place you where there is most danger. I know them. Don't + go. Send Walter down with a note to say that you regret that an + unfortunate previous engagement, which you have just recollected, will + make it impossible for you to accept their kind invitation to plot." + </p> + <p> + "No; I must go." + </p> + <p> + "And there is another thing," continued Hedwig: "Gessler the Governor is + in the town now." + </p> + <p> + "He goes away to-day." + </p> + <p> + "Well, wait till he has gone. You must not meet him. He bears you malice." + </p> + <p> + "To me his malice cannot do much harm. I do what's right, and fear no + enemy." + </p> + <p> + "Those who do right," said Hedwig, "are those he hates the most. And you + know he has never forgiven you for speaking like that when you met him in + the ravine. Keep away from the town for to-day. Do anything else. Go + hunting, if you will." + </p> + <p> + "No," said Tell; "I promised. I must go. Come along, Walter." + </p> + <p> + "You <i>aren't</i> going to take that poor <i>dear</i> child? Come here, + Walter, directly minute!' + </p> + <p> + "Want to go with father," said Walter, beginning to cry, for his father + had promised to take him with him the next time he went to the town, and + he had saved his pocket-money for the occasion. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, let the boy come," said Tell. "William will stay with you, won't you, + William?" + </p> + <p> + "All right, father," said William. + </p> + <p> + "Well, mark my words," said Hedwig, "if something bad does not happen I + shall be surprised." + </p> + <p> + "Oh no," said Tell. "What can happen?" + </p> + <p> + And without further delay he set off with Walter for the town. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter VI + </h2> + <p> + In the meantime all kinds of things of which Tell had no suspicion had + been happening in the town. The fact that there were no newspapers in + Switzerland at that time often made him a little behindhand as regarded + the latest events. He had to depend, as a rule, on visits from his + friends, who would sit in his kitchen and tell him all about everything + that had been going on for the last few days. And, of course, when there + was anything very exciting happening in the town, nobody had time to + trudge up the hill to Tell's châlet. They all wanted to be in the town + enjoying the fun. + </p> + <p> + What had happened now was this. It was the chief amusement of the + Governor, Gessler (who, you will remember, was <i>not</i> a nice man), + when he had a few moments to spare from the cares of governing, to sit + down and think out some new way of annoying the Swiss people. He was one + of those persons who + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "only do it to annoy, + Because they know it teases." +</pre> + <p> + What he liked chiefly was to forbid something. He would find out what the + people most enjoyed doing, and then he would send a herald to say that he + was very sorry, but it must stop. He found that this annoyed the Swiss + more than anything. But now he was rather puzzled what to do, for he had + forbidden everything he could think of. He had forbidden dancing and + singing, and playing on any sort of musical instrument, on the ground that + these things made such a noise, and disturbed people who wanted to work. + He had forbidden the eating of everything except bread and the simplest + sorts of meat, because he said that anything else upset people, and made + them unfit to do anything except sit still and say how ill they were. And + he had forbidden all sorts of games, because he said they were a waste of + time. + </p> + <p> + So that now, though he wanted dreadfully to forbid something else, he + could not think of anything. + </p> + <p> + Then he had an idea, and this was it: + </p> + <p> + He told his servants to cut a long pole. And they cut a very long pole. + Then he said to them, "Go into the hall and bring me one of my hats. Not + my best hat, which I wear on Sundays and on State occasions; nor yet my + second-best, which I wear every day; nor yet, again, the one I wear when I + am out hunting, for all these I need. Fetch me, rather, the oldest of my + hats." And they fetched him the very oldest of his hats. Then he said, + "Put it on top of the pole." And they put it right on top of the pole. + And, last of all, he said, "Go and set up the pole in the middle of the + meadow just outside the gates of the town." And they went and set up the + pole in the very middle of the meadow just outside the gates of the town. + </p> + <p> + Then he sent his heralds out to north and south and east and west to + summon the people together, because he said he had something very + important and special to say to them. And the people came in tens, and + fifties, and hundreds, men, women, and children; and they stood waiting in + front of the Palace steps till Gessler the Governor should come out and + say something very important and special to them. + </p> + <p> + And punctually at eleven o'clock, Gessler, having finished a capital + breakfast, came out on to the top step and spoke to them. + </p> + <p> + "Ladies and gentlemen,"--he began. (A voice from the crowd: "Speak up!") + </p> + <p> + "Ladies and gentlemen," he began again, in a louder voice, "if I could + catch the man who said 'Speak up!' I would have him bitten in the neck by + wild elephants. (Applause.) I have called you to this place to-day to + explain to you my reason for putting up a pole, on the top of which is one + of my caps, in the meadow just outside the city gates. It is this: You + all, I know, respect and love me." Here he paused for the audience to + cheer, but as they remained quite silent he went on: "You would all, I + know, like to come to my Palace every day and do reverence to me. (A + voice: 'No, no!') If I could catch the man who said 'No, no!' I would have + him stung on the soles of the feet by pink scorpions; and if he was the + same man who said 'Speak up!' a little while ago, the number of scorpions + should be doubled. (Loud applause.) As I was saying before I was + interrupted, I know you would like to come to my Palace and do reverence + to me there. But, as you are many and space is limited, I am obliged to + refuse you that pleasure. However, being anxious not to disappoint you, I + have set up my cap in the meadow, and you may do reverence to <i>that</i>. + In fact, you <i>must</i>. Everybody is to look on that cap as if it were + me. (A voice: 'It ain't so ugly as you!') If I could catch the man who + made that remark I would have him tied up and teased by trained + bluebottles. (Deafening applause.) In fact, to put the matter briefly, if + anybody crosses that meadow without bowing down before that cap, my + soldiers will arrest him, and I will have him pecked on the nose by + infuriated blackbirds. So there! Soldiers, move that crowd on!" + </p> + <p> + And Gessler disappeared indoors again, just as a volley of eggs and + cabbages whistled through the air. And the soldiers began to hustle the + crowd down the various streets till the open space in front of the Palace + gates was quite cleared of them. All this happened the day before Tell and + Walter set out for the town. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter VII + </h2> + <p> + Having set up the pole and cap in the meadow, Gessler sent two of his + bodyguard, Friesshardt (I should think you would be safe in pronouncing + this Freeze-hard, but you had better ask somebody who knows) and Leuthold, + to keep watch there all day, and see that nobody passed by without + kneeling down before the pole and taking off his hat to it. + </p> + <p> + But the people, who prided themselves on being what they called <i>üppen + zie schnuffen</i>, or, as we should say, "up to snuff," and equal to every + occasion, had already seen a way out of the difficulty. They knew that if + they crossed the meadow they must bow down before the pole, which they did + not want to do, so it occurred to them that an ingenious way of preventing + this would be not to cross the meadow. So they went the long way round, + and the two soldiers spent a lonely day. + </p> + <p> + "What I sez," said Friesshardt, "is, wot's the use of us wasting our time + here?" (Friesshardt was not a very well-educated man, and he did not speak + good grammar.) "None of these here people ain't a-going to bow down to + that there hat. Of course they ain't. Why, I can remember the time when + this meadow was like a fair--everybody a-shoving and a-jostling one + another for elbow-room; and look at it now! It's a desert. That's what it + is, a desert. What's the good of us wasting of our time here, I sez. + That's what I sez. + </p> + <p> + "And they're artful, too, mind yer," he continued. "Why, only this + morning, I sez to myself, 'Friesshardt,' I sez, 'you just wait till twelve + o'clock,' I sez, ''cos that's when they leave the council-house, and then + they'll <i>have</i> to cross the meadow. And then we'll see what we <i>shall</i> + see,' I sez. Like that, I sez. Bitter-like, yer know. 'We'll see,' I sez, + 'what we <i>shall</i> see.' So I waited, and at twelve o'clock out they + came, dozens of them, and began to cross the meadow. 'And now,' sez I to + myself, 'look out for larks.' But what happened? Why, when they came to + the pole, the priest stood in front of it, and the sacristan rang the + bell, and they all fell down on their knees. But they were saying their + prayers, not doing obeisance to the hat. That's what <i>they</i> were + doing. Artful--that's what <i>they</i> are!" + </p> + <p> + And Friesshardt kicked the foot of the pole viciously with his iron boot. + </p> + <p> + "It's my belief," said Leuthold (Leuthold is the thin soldier you see in + the picture)--"it's my firm belief that they are laughing at us. There! + Listen to that!" + </p> + <p> + A voice made itself heard from behind a rock not far off. + </p> + <p> + "Where did you get that hat?" said the voice. + </p> + <p> + "There!" grumbled Leuthold; "they're always at it. Last time it was, + 'Who's your hatter?' Why, we're the laughing-stock of the place. We're + like two rogues in a pillory. 'Tis rank disgrace for one who wears a sword + to stand as sentry o'er an empty hat. To make obeisance to a hat! I' + faith, such a command is downright foolery!" + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Friesshardt, "and why not bow before an empty hat? Thou hast + oft bow'd before an empty skull. Ha, ha! I was always one for a joke, yer + know." + </p> + <p> + "Here come some people," said Leuthold. "At last! And they're only the + rabble, after all. You don't catch any of the better sort of people coming + here." + </p> + <p> + A crowd was beginning to collect on the edge of the meadow. Its numbers + swelled every minute, until quite a hundred of the commoner sort must have + been gathered together. They stood pointing at the pole and talking among + themselves, but nobody made any movement to cross the meadow. + </p> + <p> + At last somebody shouted "Yah!" + </p> + <p> + The soldiers took no notice. + </p> + <p> + Somebody else cried "Booh!"' + </p> + <p> + "Pass along there, pass along!" said the soldiers. + </p> + <p> + Cries of "Where did you get that hat?" began to come from the body of the + crowd. When the Swiss invented a catch-phrase they did not drop it in a + hurry. + </p> + <p> + "Where--did--you--get--that--HAT?" they shouted. + </p> + <p> + Friesshardt and Leuthold stood like two statues in armour, paying no + attention to the remarks of the rabble. This annoyed the rabble. They + began to be more personal. + </p> + <p> + "You in the second-hand lobster-tin," shouted one--he meant Friesshardt, + whose suit of armour, though no longer new, hardly deserved this + description--"who's your hatter?" + </p> + <p> + "Can't yer see," shouted a friend, when Friesshardt made no reply, "the + pore thing ain't alive? 'E's stuffed!" + </p> + <p> + Roars of laughter greeted this sally. Friesshardt, in spite of the fact + that he enjoyed a joke, turned pink. + </p> + <p> + "'E's blushing!" shrieked a voice. + </p> + <p> + Friesshardt turned purple. + </p> + <p> + Then things got still more exciting. + </p> + <p> + "'Ere," said a rough voice in the crowd impatiently, "wot's the good of <i>torkin'</i> + to 'em? Gimme that 'ere egg, missus!" + </p> + <p> + And in another instant an egg flew across the meadow, and burst over + Leuthold's shoulder. The crowd howled with delight. This was something <i>like</i> + fun, thought they, and the next moment eggs, cabbages, cats, and missiles + of every sort darkened the air. The two soldiers raved and shouted, but + did not dare to leave their post. At last, just as the storm was at its + height, it ceased, as if by magic. Everyone in the crowd turned round, + and, as he turned, jumped into the air and waved his hat. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_03.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_03.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + A deafening cheer went up. + </p> + <p> + "Hurrah!" cried the mob; "here comes good old Tell! <i>Now</i> there's + going to be a jolly row!" + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter VIII + </h2> + <p> + Tell came striding along, Walter by his side, and his cross-bow over his + shoulder. He knew nothing about the hat having been placed on the pole, + and he was surprised to see such a large crowd gathered in the meadow. He + bowed to the crowd in his polite way, and the crowd gave three cheers and + one more, and he bowed again. + </p> + <p> + "Hullo!" said Walter suddenly; "look at that hat up there, father. On the + pole." + </p> + <p> + "What is the hat to us?" said Tell; and he began to walk across the meadow + with an air of great dignity, and Walter walked by his side, trying to + look just like him. + </p> + <p> + "Here! hi!" shouted the soldiers. "Stop! You haven't bowed down to the + cap." + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_04.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_04.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + Tell looked scornful, but said nothing. Walter looked still more scornful. + </p> + <p> + "Ho, there!" shouted Friesshardt, standing in front of him. "I bid you + stand in the Emperor's name." + </p> + <p> + "My good fellow," said Tell, "please do not bother me. I am in a hurry. I + really have nothing for you." + </p> + <p> + "My orders is," said Friesshardt, "to stand in this 'ere meadow and to see + as how all them what passes through it does obeisance to that there hat. + Them's Governor's orders, them is. So now." + </p> + <p> + "My good fellow," said Tell, "let me pass. I shall get cross, I know I + shall." + </p> + <p> + Shouts of encouragement from the crowd, who were waiting patiently for the + trouble to begin. + </p> + <p> + "Go it, Tell!" they cried. "Don't stand talking to him. Hit him a kick!" + </p> + <p> + Friesshardt became angrier every minute. + </p> + <p> + "My orders is," he said again, "to arrest them as don't bow down to the + hat, and for two pins, young feller, I'll arrest you. So which is it to + be? Either you bow down to that there hat or you come along of me." + </p> + <p> + Tell pushed him aside, and walked on with his chin in the air. Walter went + with him, with his chin in the air. + </p> + <p> + WHACK! + </p> + <p> + A howl of dismay went up from the crowd as they saw Friesshardt raise his + pike and bring it down with all his force on Tell's head. The sound of the + blow went echoing through the meadow and up the hills and down the + valleys. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_05.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_05.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + "Ow!" cried Tell. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Now</i>," thought the crowd, "things must begin to get exciting." + </p> + <p> + Tell's first idea was that one of the larger mountains in the + neighbourhood had fallen on top of him. Then he thought that there must + have been an earthquake. Then it gradually dawned upon him that he had + been hit by a mere common soldier with a pike. Then he <i>was</i> angry. + </p> + <p> + "Look here!" he began. + </p> + <p> + "Look there!" said Friesshardt, pointing to the cap. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_06.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_06.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + "You've hurt my head very much," said Tell. "Feel the bump. If I hadn't + happened to have a particularly hard head I don't know what might not have + happened;" and he raised his fist and hit Friesshardt; but as Friesshardt + was wearing a thick iron helmet the blow did not hurt him very much. + </p> + <p> + But it had the effect of bringing the crowd to Tell's assistance. They had + been waiting all this time for him to begin the fighting, for though they + were very anxious to attack the soldiers, they did not like to do so by + themselves. They wanted a leader. + </p> + <p> + So when they saw Tell hit Friesshardt, they tucked up their sleeves, + grasped their sticks and cudgels more tightly, and began to run across the + meadow towards him. + </p> + <p> + Neither of the soldiers noticed this. Friesshardt was busy arguing with + Tell, and Leuthold was laughing at Friesshardt. So when the people came + swarming up with their sticks and cudgels they were taken by surprise. But + every soldier in the service of Gessler was as brave as a lion, and + Friesshardt and Leuthold were soon hitting back merrily, and making a good + many of the crowd wish that they had stayed at home. The two soldiers were + wearing armour, of course, so that it was difficult to hurt them; but the + crowd, who wore no armour, found that <i>they</i> could get hurt very + easily. Conrad Hunn, for instance, was attacking Friesshardt, when the + soldier happened to drop his pike. It fell on Conrad's toe, and Conrad + limped away, feeling that fighting was no fun unless you had thick boots + on. + </p> + <p> + And so for a time the soldiers had the best of the fight. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter IX + </h2> + <p> + For many minutes the fight raged furiously round the pole, and the earth + shook beneath the iron boots of Friesshardt and Leuthold as they rushed + about, striking out right and left with their fists and the flats of their + pikes. Seppi the cowboy (an ancestor, by the way, of Buffalo Bill) went + down before a tremendous blow by Friesshardt, and Leuthold knocked Klaus + von der Flue head over heels. + </p> + <p> + "What you <i>want</i>" said Arnold of Sewa, who had seen the beginning of + the fight from the window of his cottage and had hurried to join it, and, + as usual, to give advice to everybody--"what you want here is guile. + That's what you want--guile, cunning. Not brute force, mind you. It's no + good rushing at a man in armour and hitting him. He only hits you back. + You should employ guile. Thus. Observe." + </p> + <p> + He had said these words standing on the outskirts of the crowd. He now + grasped his cudgel and began to steal slowly towards Friesshardt, who had + just given Werni the huntsman such a hit with his pike that the sound of + it was still echoing in the mountains, and was now busily engaged in + disposing of Jost Weiler. Arnold of Sewa crept stealthily behind him, and + was just about to bring his cudgel down on his head, when Leuthold, + catching sight of him, saved his comrade by driving his pike with all his + force into Arnold's side. Arnold said afterwards that it completely took + his breath away. He rolled over, and after being trodden on by everybody + for some minutes, got up and limped back to his cottage, where he went + straight to bed, and did not get up for two days. + </p> + <p> + All this time Tell had been standing a little way off with his arms + folded, looking on. While it was a quarrel simply between himself and + Friesshardt he did not mind fighting. But when the crowd joined in he felt + that it was not fair to help so many men attack one, however badly that + one might have behaved. + </p> + <p> + He now saw that the time had come to put an end to the disturbance. He + drew an arrow from his quiver, placed it in his crossbow, and pointed it + at the hat. Friesshardt, seeing what he intended to do, uttered a shout of + horror and rushed to stop him. But at that moment somebody in the crowd + hit him so hard with a spade that his helmet was knocked over his eyes, + and before he could raise it again the deed was done. Through the cap and + through the pole and out at the other side sped the arrow. And the first + thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Tell standing beside him twirling + his moustache, while all around the crowd danced and shouted and threw + their caps into the air with joy. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_07.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_07.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + <br /> <br /> + </h5> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_08.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_08.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + "A mere trifle," said Tell modestly. + </p> + <p> + The crowd cheered again and again. + </p> + <p> + Friesshardt and Leuthold lay on the ground beside the pole, feeling very + sore and bruised, and thought that perhaps, on the whole, they had better + stay there. There was no knowing what the crowd might do after this, if + they began to fight again. So they lay on the ground and made no attempt + to interfere with the popular rejoicings. What they <i>wanted</i>, as + Arnold of Sewa might have said if he had been there, was a few moments' + complete rest. Leuthold's helmet had been hammered with sticks until it + was over his eyes and all out of shape, and Friesshardt's was very little + better. And they both felt just as if they had been run over in the street + by a horse and cart. + </p> + <p> + "Tell!" shouted the crowd. "Hurrah for Tell! Good old Tell!" + </p> + <p> + "Tell's the boy!" roared Ulric the smith. "Not another man in Switzerland + could have made that shot." + </p> + <p> + "No," shrieked everybody, "not another!" + </p> + <p> + "Speech!" cried someone from the edge of the crowd. + </p> + <p> + "Speech! Speech! Tell, speech!" Everybody took up the cry. + </p> + <p> + "No, no," said Tell, blushing. + </p> + <p> + "Go on, go on!" shouted the crowd. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I couldn't," said Tell; "I don't know what to say." + </p> + <p> + "Anything will do. Speech! Speech!" + </p> + <p> + Ulric the smith and Ruodi the fisherman hoisted Tell on to their + shoulders, and, having coughed once or twice, he said: + </p> + <p> + "Gentlemen--" + </p> + <p> + Cheers from the crowd. + </p> + <p> + "Gentlemen," said Tell again, "this is the proudest moment of my life." + </p> + <p> + More cheers. + </p> + <p> + "I don't know what you want me to talk about. I have never made a speech + before. Excuse my emotion. This is the proudest moment of my life. To-day + is a great day for Switzerland. We have struck the first blow of the + revolution. Let us strike some more." + </p> + <p> + Shouts of "Hear, hear!" from the crowd, many of whom, misunderstanding + Tell's last remark, proceeded to hit Leuthold and Friesshardt, until + stopped by cries of "Order!" from Ulric the smith. + </p> + <p> + "Gentlemen," continued Tell, "the floodgates of revolution have been + opened. From this day they will stalk through the land burning to ashes + the slough of oppression which our tyrant Governor has erected in our + midst. I have only to add that this is the proudest moment of my life, + and----" + </p> + <p> + He was interrupted by a frightened voice. + </p> + <p> + "Look out, you chaps," said the voice; "here comes the Governor!" + </p> + <p> + Gessler, with a bodyguard of armed men, had entered the meadow, and was + galloping towards them. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter X + </h2> + <p> + Gessler came riding up on his brown horse, and the crowd melted away in + all directions, for there was no knowing what the Governor might not do if + he found them plotting. They were determined to rebel and to throw off his + tyrannous yoke, but they preferred to do it quietly and comfortably, when + he was nowhere near. + </p> + <p> + So they ran away to the edge of the meadow, and stood there in groups, + waiting to see what was going to happen. Not even Ulric the smith and + Ruodi the fisherman waited, though they knew quite well that Tell had not + nearly finished his speech. They set the orator down, and began to walk + away, trying to look as if they had been doing nothing in particular, and + were going to go on doing it--only somewhere else. + </p> + <p> + Tell was left standing alone in the middle of the meadow by the pole. He + scorned to run away like the others, but he did not at all like the look + of things. Gessler was a stern man, quick to punish any insult, and there + were two of his soldiers lying on the ground with their nice armour all + spoiled and dented, and his own cap on top of the pole had an arrow right + through the middle of it, and would never look the same again, however + much it might be patched. It seemed to Tell that there was a bad time + coming. + </p> + <p> + Gessler rode up, and reined in his horse. + </p> + <p> + "Now then, now then, now then!" he said, in his quick, abrupt way. "What's + this? what's this? what's this?" + </p> + <p> + (When a man repeats what he says three times, you can see that he is not + in a good temper.) + </p> + <p> + Friesshardt and Leuthold got up, saluted, and limped slowly towards him. + They halted beside his horse, and stood to attention. The tears trickled + down their cheeks. + </p> + <p> + "Come, come, come!" said Gessler; "tell me all about it." + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_09.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_09.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + And he patted Friesshardt on the head. Friesshardt bellowed. + </p> + <p> + Gessler beckoned to one of his courtiers. + </p> + <p> + "Have you a handkerchief?" he said. + </p> + <p> + "I have a handkerchief, your Excellency." + </p> + <p> + "Then dry this man's eyes." + </p> + <p> + The courtier did as he was bidden. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Now</i>," said Gessler, when the drying was done, and Friesshardt's + tears had ceased, "what has been happening here? I heard a cry of 'Help!' + as I came up. Who cried 'Help!'?" + </p> + <p> + "Please, your lordship's noble Excellencyship," said Friesshardt, "it was + me, Friesshardt." + </p> + <p> + "You should say, 'It was I,'" said Gessler. "Proceed." + </p> + <p> + "Which I am a loyal servant of your Excellency's, and in your Excellency's + army, and seeing as how I was told to stand by this 'ere pole and guard + that there hat, I stood by this 'ere pole, and guarded that there hat--all + day, I did, your Excellency. And then up comes this man here, and I says + to him--'Bow down to the hat,' I says. 'Ho!' he says to me--'ho, indeed!' + and he passed on without so much as nodding. So I takes my pike, and I + taps him on the head to remind him, as you may say, that there was + something he was forgetting, and he ups and hits me, he does. And then the + crowd runs up with their sticks and hits me and Leuthold cruel, your + Excellency. And while we was a-fighting with them, this here man I'm + a-telling you about, your Excellency, he outs with an arrow, puts it into + his bow, and sends it through the hat, and I don't see how you'll ever be + able to wear it again. It's a waste of a good hat, your Excellency--that's + what it is. And then the people, they puts me and Leuthold on the ground, + and hoists this here man--Tell, they call him--up on their shoulders, and + he starts making a speech, when up you comes, your Excellency. That's how + it all was." + </p> + <p> + Gessler turned pale with rage, and glared fiercely at Tell, who stood + before him in the grasp of two of the bodyguard. + </p> + <p> + "Ah," he said, "Tell, is it? Good-day to you, Tell. I think we've met + before, Tell? Eh, Tell?" + </p> + <p> + "We have, your Excellency. It was in the ravine of Schächenthal," said + Tell firmly. + </p> + <p> + "Your memory is good, Tell. So is mine. I think you made a few remarks to + me on that occasion, Tell--a few chatty remarks? Eh, Tell?" + </p> + <p> + "Very possibly, your Excellency." + </p> + <p> + "You were hardly polite, Tell." + </p> + <p> + "If I offended you I am sorry." + </p> + <p> + "I am glad to hear it, Tell. I think you will be even sorrier before long. + So you've been ill-treating my soldiers, eh?" + </p> + <p> + "It was not I who touched them." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, so you didn't touch them? Ah! But you defied my power by refusing to + bow down to the hat. I set up that hat to prove the people's loyalty. I am + afraid you are not loyal, Tell." + </p> + <p> + "I was a little thoughtless, not disloyal. I passed the hat without + thinking." + </p> + <p> + "You should always think, Tell. It is very dangerous not to do so. And I + suppose that you shot your arrow through the hat without thinking?" + </p> + <p> + "I was a little carried away by excitement, your Excellency." + </p> + <p> + "Dear, dear! Carried away by excitement, were you? You must really be more + careful, Tell. One of these days you will be getting yourself into + trouble. But it seems to have been a very fine shot. You <i>are</i> a + capital marksman, I believe?" + </p> + <p> + "Father's the best shot in all Switzerland," piped a youthful voice. "He + can hit an apple on a tree a hundred yards away. I've seen him. Can't you, + father?" + </p> + <p> + Walter, who had run away when the fighting began, had returned on seeing + his father in the hands of the soldiers. + </p> + <p> + Gessler turned a cold eye upon him. + </p> + <p> + "Who is this?" he asked. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter XI + </h2> + <p> + "It is my son Walter, your Excellency," said Tell. + </p> + <p> + "Your son? Indeed. This is very interesting. Have you any more children?" + </p> + <p> + "I have one other boy." + </p> + <p> + "And which of them do you love the most, eh?" + </p> + <p> + "I love them both alike, your Excellency." + </p> + <p> + "Dear me! Quite a happy family. Now, listen to me, Tell. I know you are + fond of excitement, so I am going to try to give you a little. Your son + says that you can hit an apple on a tree a hundred yards away, and I am + sure you have every right to be very proud of such a feat. Friesshardt!" + </p> + <p> + "Your Excellency?" + </p> + <p> + "Bring me an apple." + </p> + <p> + Friesshardt picked one up. Some apples had been thrown at him and Leuthold + earlier in the day, and there were several lying about. + </p> + <p> + "Which I'm afraid as how it's a little bruised, your Excellency," he said, + "having hit me on the helmet." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you. I do not require it for eating purposes," said Gessler. "Now, + Tell, I have here an apple--a simple apple, not over-ripe. I should like + to test that feat of yours. So take your bow--I see you have it in your + hand--and get ready to shoot. I am going to put this apple on your son's + head. He will be placed a hundred yards away from you, and if you do not + hit the apple with your first shot your life shall pay forfeit." + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_10.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_10.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + And he regarded Tell with a look of malicious triumph. + </p> + <p> + "Your Excellency, it cannot be!" cried Tell; "the thing is too monstrous. + Perhaps your Excellency is pleased to jest. You cannot bid a father shoot + an apple from off his son's head! Consider, your Excellency!" + </p> + <p> + "You shall shoot the apple from off the head of this boy," said Gessler + sternly. "I do not jest. That is my will." + </p> + <p> + "Sooner would I die," said Tell. + </p> + <p> + "If you do not shoot you die with the boy. Come, come, Tell, why so + cautious? They always told me that you loved perilous enterprises, and yet + when I give you one you complain. I could understand anybody else + shrinking from the feat. But you! Hitting apples at a hundred yards is + child's play to you. And what does it matter where the apple is--whether + it is on a tree or on a boy's head? It is an apple just the same. Proceed, + Tell." + </p> + <p> + The crowd, seeing a discussion going on, had left the edge of the meadow + and clustered round to listen. A groan of dismay went up at the Governor's + words. + </p> + <p> + "Down on your knees, boy," whispered Rudolph der Harras to Walter--"down + on your knees, and beg his Excellency for your life." + </p> + <p> + "I won't!" said Walter stoutly. + </p> + <p> + "Come," said Gessler, "clear a path there--clear a path! Hurry yourselves. + I won't have this loitering. Look you, Tell: attend to me for a moment. I + find you in the middle of this meadow deliberately defying my authority + and making sport of my orders. I find you in the act of stirring up + discontent among my people with speeches. I might have you executed + without ceremony. But do I? No. Nobody shall say that Hermann Gessler the + Governor is not kind-hearted. I say to myself, 'I will give this man one + chance.' I place your fate in your own skilful hands. How can a man + complain of harsh treatment when he is made master of his own fate? + Besides, I don't ask you to do anything difficult. I merely bid you + perform what must be to you a simple shot. You boast of your unerring aim. + Now is the time to prove it. Clear the way there!" + </p> + <p> + Walter Fürst flung himself on his knees before the Governor. + </p> + <p> + "Your Highness," he cried, "none deny your power. Let it be mingled with + mercy. It is excellent, as an English poet will say in a few hundred + years, to have a giant's strength, but it is tyrannous to use it like a + giant. Take the half of my possessions, but spare my son-in-law." + </p> + <p> + But Walter Tell broke in impatiently, and bade his grandfather rise, and + not kneel to the tyrant. + </p> + <p> + "Where must I stand?" asked he. "I'm not afraid. Father can hit a bird + upon the wing." + </p> + <p> + "You see that lime-tree yonder," said Gessler to his soldiers; "take the + boy and bind him to it." + </p> + <p> + "I will not be bound!" cried Walter. "I am not afraid. I'll stand still. I + won't breathe. If you bind me I'll kick!" + </p> + <p> + "Let us bind your eyes, at least," said Rudolph der Harras. + </p> + <p> + "Do you think I fear to see father shoot?" said Walter. "I won't stir an + eyelash. Father, show the tyrant how you can shoot. He thinks you're going + to miss. Isn't he an old donkey!" + </p> + <p> + "Very well, young man," muttered Gessler, "we'll see who is laughing five + minutes from now." And once more he bade the crowd stand back and leave a + way clear for Tell to shoot. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter XII + </h2> + <p> + The crowd fell back, leaving a lane down which Walter walked, carrying the + apple. There was dead silence as he passed. Then the people began to + whisper excitedly to one another. + </p> + <p> + "Shall this be done before our eyes?" said Arnold of Melchthal to Werner + Stauffacher. "Of what use was it that we swore an oath to rebel if we + permit this? Let us rise and slay the tyrant." + </p> + <p> + Werner Stauffacher, prudent man, scratched his chin thoughtfully. + </p> + <p> + "We-e-ll," he said, "you see, the difficulty is that we are not armed and + the soldiers <i>are</i>. There is nothing I should enjoy more than slaying + the tyrant, only I have an idea that the tyrant would slay us. You see my + point?" + </p> + <p> + "Why were we so slow!" groaned Arnold. "We should have risen before, and + then this would never have happened. Who was it that advised us to delay?" + </p> + <p> + "We-e-ll," said Stauffacher (who had himself advised delay), "I can't + quite remember at the moment, but I dare say you could find out by looking + up the minutes of our last meeting. I know the motion was carried by a + majority of two votes. See! Gessler grows impatient." + </p> + <p> + Gessler, who had been fidgeting on his horse for some time, now spoke + again, urging Tell to hurry. + </p> + <p> + "Begin!" he cried--"begin!" + </p> + <p> + "Immediately," replied Tell, fitting the arrow to the string. + </p> + <p> + Gessler began to mock him once more. + </p> + <p> + "You see now," he said, "the danger of carrying arms. I don't know if you + have ever noticed it, but arrows very often recoil on the man who carries + them. The only man who has any business to possess a weapon is the ruler + of a country--myself, for instance. A low, common fellow--if you will + excuse the description--like yourself only grows proud through being + armed, and so offends those above him. But, of course, it's no business of + mine. I am only telling you what I think about it. Personally, I like to + encourage my subjects to shoot; that is why I am giving you such a + splendid mark to shoot at. You see, Tell?" + </p> + <p> + Tell did not reply. He raised his bow and pointed it. There was a stir of + excitement in the crowd, more particularly in that part of the crowd which + stood on his right, for, his hand trembling for the first time in his + life, Tell had pointed his arrow, not at his son, but straight into the + heart of the crowd. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_11.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_11.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + "Here! Hi! That's the wrong way! More to the left!" shouted the people in + a panic, while Gessler roared with laughter, and bade Tell shoot and + chance it. + </p> + <p> + "If you can't hit the apple or your son," he chuckled, "you can bring down + one of your dear fellow-countrymen." + </p> + <p> + Tell lowered his bow, and a sigh of relief went through the crowd. + </p> + <p> + "My eyes are swimming," he said; "I cannot see." + </p> + <p> + Then he turned to the Governor. + </p> + <p> + "I cannot shoot," he said; "bid your soldiers kill me." + </p> + <p> + "No," said Gessler--"no, Tell. That is not at all what I want. If I had + wished my soldiers to kill you, I should not have waited for a formal + invitation from you. I have no desire to see you slain. Not at present. I + wish to see you shoot. Come, Tell, they say you can do everything, and are + afraid of nothing. Only the other day, I hear, you carried a man, one + Baumgartner--that was his name, I think--across a rough sea in an open + boat. You may remember it? I particularly wished to catch Baumgartner, + Tell. Now, this is a feat which calls for much less courage. Simply to + shoot an apple off a boy's head. A child could do it." + </p> + <p> + While he was speaking, Tell had been standing in silence, his hands + trembling and his eyes fixed, sometimes on the Governor, sometimes on the + sky. He now seized his quiver, and taking from it a second arrow, placed + it in his belt. Gessler watched him, but said nothing. + </p> + <p> + "Shoot, father!" cried Walter from the other end of the lane; "I'm not + afraid." + </p> + <p> + Tell, calm again now, raised his bow and took a steady aim. Everybody + craned forward, the front ranks in vain telling those behind that there + was nothing to be gained by pushing. Gessler bent over his horse's neck + and peered eagerly towards Walter. A great hush fell on all as Tell + released the string. + </p> + <p> + "Phut!" went the string, and the arrow rushed through the air. + </p> + <p> + A moment's suspense, and then a terrific cheer rose from the spectators. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_12.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_12.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + The apple had leaped from Walter's head, pierced through the centre. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter XIII + </h2> + <p> + Intense excitement instantly reigned. Their suspense over, the crowd + cheered again and again, shook hands with one another, and flung their + caps into the air. Everyone was delighted, for everyone was fond of Tell + and Walter. It also pleased them to see the Governor disappointed. He had + had things his own way for so long that it was a pleasant change to see + him baffled in this manner. Not since Switzerland became a nation had the + meadow outside the city gates been the scene of such rejoicings. + </p> + <p> + Walter had picked up the apple with the arrow piercing it, and was showing + it proudly to all his friends. + </p> + <p> + "I told you so," he kept saying; "I knew father wouldn't hurt me. Father's + the best shot in all Switzerland." + </p> + <p> + "That was indeed a shot!" exclaimed Ulric the smith; "it will ring through + the ages. While the mountains stand will the tale of Tell the bowman be + told." + </p> + <p> + Rudolph der Harras took the apple from Walter and showed it to Gessler, + who had been sitting transfixed on his horse. + </p> + <p> + "See," he said, "the arrow has passed through the very centre. It was a + master shot." + </p> + <p> + "It was very nearly a 'Master Walter shot,'" said Rösselmann the priest + severely, fixing the Governor with a stern eye. + </p> + <p> + Gessler made no answer. He sat looking moodily at Tell, who had dropped + his cross-bow and was standing motionless, still gazing in the direction + in which the arrow had sped. Nobody liked to be the first to speak to him. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Rudolph der Harras, breaking an awkward silence, "I suppose + it's all over now? May as well be moving, eh?" + </p> + <p> + He bit a large piece out of the apple, which he still held. Walter uttered + a piercing scream as he saw the mouthful disappear. Up till now he had + shown no signs of dismay, in spite of the peril which he had had to face; + but when he watched Rudolph eating the apple, which he naturally looked + upon as his own property, he could not keep quiet any longer. Rudolph + handed him the apple with an apology, and he began to munch it + contentedly. + </p> + <p> + "Come with me to your mother, my boy," said Rösselmann. + </p> + <p> + Walter took no notice, but went on eating the apple. + </p> + <p> + Tell came to himself with a start, looked round for Walter, and began to + lead him away in the direction of his home, deaf to all the cheering that + was going on around him. + </p> + <p> + Gessler leaned forward in his saddle. + </p> + <p> + "Tell," he said, "a word with you." + </p> + <p> + Tell came back. + </p> + <p> + "Your Excellency?" + </p> + <p> + "Before you go I wish you to explain one thing." + </p> + <p> + "A thousand, your Excellency." + </p> + <p> + "No, only one. When you were getting ready to shoot at the apple you + placed an arrow in the string and a second arrow in your belt." + </p> + <p> + "A second arrow!" Tell pretended to be very much astonished, but the + pretence did not deceive the Governor. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, a second arrow. Why was that? What did you intend to do with that + arrow, Tell?" + </p> + <p> + Tell looked down uneasily, and twisted his bow about in his hands. + </p> + <p> + "My lord," he said at last, "it is a bowman's custom. All archers place a + second arrow in their belt." + </p> + <p> + "No, Tell," said Gessler, "I cannot take that answer as the truth. I know + there was some other meaning in what you did. Tell me the reason without + concealment. Why was it? Your life is safe, whatever it was, so speak out. + Why did you take out that second arrow?" + </p> + <p> + Tell stopped fidgeting with his bow, and met the Governor's eye with a + steady gaze. + </p> + <p> + "Since you promise me my life, your Excellency," he replied, drawing + himself up, "I will tell you." + </p> + <p> + He drew the arrow from his belt and held it up. + </p> + <p> + The crowd pressed forward, hanging on his words. + </p> + <p> + "Had my first arrow," said Tell slowly, "pierced my child and not the + apple, this would have pierced you, my lord. Had I missed with my first + shot, be sure, my lord, that my second would have found its mark." + </p> + <p> + A murmur of approval broke from the crowd as Tell thrust the arrow back + into the quiver and faced the Governor with folded arms and burning eyes. + Gessler turned white with fury. + </p> + <p> + "Seize that man!" he shouted. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_13.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_13.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + "My lord, bethink you," whispered Rudolph der Harras; "you promised him + his life. Tell, fly!" he cried. + </p> + <p> + Tell did not move. + </p> + <p> + "Seize that man and bind him," roared Gessler once more. "If he resists, + cut him down." + </p> + <p> + "I shall not resist," said Tell scornfully. "I should have known the folly + of trusting to a tyrant to keep his word. My death will at least show my + countrymen the worth of their Governor's promises." + </p> + <p> + "Not so," replied Gessler; "no man shall say I ever broke my knightly + word. I promised you your life, and I will give you your life. But you are + a dangerous man, Tell, and against such must I guard myself. You have told + me your murderous purpose. I must look to it that that purpose is not + fulfilled. Life I promised you, and life I will give you. But of freedom I + said nothing. In my castle at Küssnacht there are dungeons where no ray of + sun or moon ever falls. Chained hand and foot in one of these, you will + hardly aim your arrows at me. It is rash, Tell, to threaten those who have + power over you. Soldiers, bind him and lead him to my ship. I will follow, + and will myself conduct him to Küssnacht." + </p> + <p> + The soldiers tied Tell's hands. He offered no resistance. And amidst the + groans of the people he was led away to the shore of the lake, where + Gessler's ship lay at anchor. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_14.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_15.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <p> + "Our last chance is gone," said the people to one another. "Where shall we + look now for a leader?" + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter XIV + </h2> + <p> + The castle of Küssnacht lay on the opposite side of the lake, a mighty + mass of stone reared on a mightier crag rising sheer out of the waves, + which boiled and foamed about its foot. Steep rocks of fantastic shape + hemmed it in, and many were the vessels which perished on these, driven + thither by the frequent storms that swept over the lake. + </p> + <p> + Gessler and his men, Tell in their midst, bound and unarmed, embarked + early in the afternoon at Flüelen, which was the name of the harbour where + the Governor's ship had been moored. Flüelen was about two miles from + Küssnacht. + </p> + <p> + When they had arrived at the vessel they went on board, and Tell was + placed at the bottom of the hold. It was pitch dark, and rats scampered + over his body as he lay. The ropes were cast off, the sails filled, and + the ship made her way across the lake, aided by a favouring breeze. + </p> + <p> + A large number of the Swiss people had followed Tell and his captors to + the harbour, and stood gazing sorrowfully after the ship as it diminished + in the distance. There had been whispers of an attempted rescue, but + nobody had dared to begin it, and the whispers had led to nothing. Few of + the people carried weapons, and the soldiers were clad in armour, and each + bore a long pike or a sharp sword. As Arnold of Sewa would have said if he + had been present, what the people wanted was prudence. It was useless to + attack men so thoroughly able to defend themselves. + </p> + <p> + Therefore the people looked on and groaned, but did nothing. + </p> + <p> + For some time the ship sped easily on her way and through a calm sea. Tell + lay below, listening to the trampling of the sailors overhead, as they ran + about the deck, and gave up all hope of ever seeing his home and his + friends again. + </p> + <p> + But soon he began to notice that the ship was rolling and pitching more + than it had been doing at first, and it was not long before he realized + that a very violent storm had begun. Storms sprung up very suddenly on the + lake, and made it unsafe for boats that attempted to cross it. Often the + sea was quite unruffled at the beginning of the crossing, and was rough + enough at the end to wreck the largest ship. + </p> + <p> + Tell welcomed the storm. He had no wish to live if life meant years of + imprisonment in a dark dungeon of Castle Küssnacht. Drowning would be a + pleasant fate compared with that. He lay at the bottom of the ship, hoping + that the next wave would dash them on to a rock and send them to the + bottom of the lake. The tossing became worse and worse. + </p> + <p> + Upon the deck Gessler was standing beside the helmsman, and gazing + anxiously across the waters at the rocks that fringed the narrow entrance + to the bay a few hundred yards to the east of Castle Küssnacht. This bay + was the only spot for miles along the shore at which it was possible to + land safely. For miles on either side the coast was studded with great + rocks, which would have dashed a ship to pieces in a moment. It was to + this bay that Gessler wished to direct the ship. But the helmsman told him + that he could not make sure of finding the entrance, so great was the + cloud of spray which covered it. A mistake would mean shipwreck. + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said the helmsman, "I have neither strength nor skill to guide + the helm. I do not know which way to turn." + </p> + <p> + "What are we to do?" asked Rudolph der Harras, who was standing near. + </p> + <p> + The helmsman hesitated. Then he spoke, eyeing the Governor uneasily. + </p> + <p> + "Tell could steer us through," he said, "if your lordship would but give + him the helm." + </p> + <p> + Gessler started. + </p> + <p> + "Tell!" he muttered. "Tell!" + </p> + <p> + The ship drew nearer to the rocks. + </p> + <p> + "Bring him here," said Gessler. + </p> + <p> + Two soldiers went down to the hold and released Tell. They bade him get up + and come with them. Tell followed them on deck, and stood before the + Governor. + </p> + <p> + "Tell," said Gessler. + </p> + <p> + Tell looked at him without speaking. + </p> + <p> + "Take the helm, Tell," said Gessler, "and steer the ship through those + rocks into the bay beyond, or instant death shall be your lot." + </p> + <p> + Without a word Tell took the helmsman's place, peering keenly into the + cloud of foam before him. To right and to left he turned the vessel's + head, and to right again, into the very heart of the spray. They were + right among the rocks now, but the ship did not strike on them. Quivering + and pitching, she was hurried along, until of a sudden the spray-cloud was + behind her, and in front the calm waters of the bay. + </p> + <p> + Gessler beckoned to the helmsman. + </p> + <p> + "Take the helm again," he said. + </p> + <p> + He pointed to Tell. + </p> + <p> + "Bind him," he said to the soldiers. + </p> + <p> + The soldiers advanced slowly, for they were loath to bind the man who had + just saved them from destruction. But the Governor's orders must he + obeyed, so they came towards Tell, carrying ropes with which to bind him. + </p> + <p> + Tell moved a step back. The ship was gliding past a lofty rock. It was + such a rock as Tell had often climbed when hunting the chamois. He acted + with the quickness of the hunter. Snatching up the bow and quiver which + lay on the deck, he sprang on to the bulwark of the vessel, and, with a + mighty leap, gained the rock. Another instant, and he was out of reach. + </p> + <p> + Gessler roared to his bowmen. + </p> + <p> + "Shoot! shoot!" he cried. + </p> + <p> + The bowmen hastily fitted arrow to string. They were too late. Tell was + ready before them. There was a hiss as the shaft rushed through the air, + and the next moment Gessler the Governor fell dead on the deck, pierced + through the heart. + </p> + <p> + Tell's second arrow had found its mark, as his first had done. + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_15.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_15.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> </a> + </h5> + <h2 class="blank"> + Chapter XV + </h2> + <p> + There is not much more of the story of William Tell. The death of Gessler + was a signal to the Swiss to rise in revolt, and soon the whole country + was up in arms against the Austrians. It had been chiefly the fear of the + Governor that had prevented a rising before. It had been brewing for a + long time. The people had been bound by a solemn oath to drive the enemy + out of the country. All through Switzerland preparations for a revolution + were going on, and nobles and peasants had united. + </p> + <p> + Directly the news arrived that the Governor was slain, meetings of the + people were held in every town in Switzerland, and it was resolved to + begin the revolution without delay. All the fortresses that Gessler had + built during his years of rule were carried by assault on the same night. + The last to fall was one which had only been begun a short time back, and + the people who had been forced to help to build it spent a very pleasant + hour pulling down the stones which had cost them such labour to put in + their place. Even the children helped. It was a great treat to them to + break what they pleased without being told not to. + </p> + <p> + "See," said Tell, as he watched them, "in years to come, when these same + children are gray-haired, they will remember this night as freshly as they + will remember it to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + A number of people rushed up, bearing the pole which Gessler's soldiers + had set up in the meadow. The hat was still on top of it, nailed to the + wood by Tell's arrow. + </p> + <p> + "Here's the hat!" shouted Ruodi--"the hat to which we were to bow!" + </p> + <p> + "What shall we do with it?" cried several voices. + </p> + <p> + "Destroy it! Burn it!" said others. "To the flames with this emblem of + tyranny!" + </p> + <p> + But Tell stopped them. + </p> + <p> + "Let us preserve it," he said. "Gessler set it up to be a means of + enslaving the country; we will set it up as a memorial of our newly-gained + liberty. Nobly is fulfilled the oath we swore to drive the tyrants from + our land. Let the pole mark the spot where the revolution finished." + </p> + <p> + "But <i>is</i> it finished?" said Arnold of Melchthal. "It is a nice + point. When the Emperor of Austria hears that we have killed his friend + Gessler, and burnt down all his fine new fortresses, will he not come here + to seek revenge?" + </p> + <p> + "He will," said Tell. "And let him come. And let him bring all his mighty + armies. We have driven out the enemy that was in our land. We will meet + and drive away the enemy that comes from another country. Switzerland is + not easy to attack. There are but a few mountain passes by which the foe + can approach. We will stop these with our bodies. And one great strength + we have: we are united. And united we need fear no foe." + </p> + <p> + "Hurrah!" shouted everybody. + </p> + <p> + "But who is this that approaches?" said Tell. "He seems excited. Perhaps + he brings news." + </p> + <p> + It was Rösselmann the pastor, and he brought stirring news. + </p> + <p> + "These are strange times in which we live," said Rösselmann, coming up. + </p> + <p> + "Why, what has happened?" cried everybody. + </p> + <p> + "Listen, and be amazed." + </p> + <p> + "Why, what's the matter?" + </p> + <p> + "The Emperor----" + </p> + <p> + "Yes?" + </p> + <p> + "The Emperor is dead." + </p> + <p> + "What! dead?" + </p> + <p> + "Dead!" + </p> + <p> + "Impossible! How came you by the news?" + </p> + <p> + "John Müller of Schaffhausen brought it. And he is a truthful man." + </p> + <p> + "But how did it happen?" + </p> + <p> + "As the Emperor rode from Stein to Baden the lords of Eschenbach and + Tegerfelden, jealous, it is said, of his power, fell upon him with their + spears. His bodyguard were on the other side of a stream--the Emperor had + just crossed it--and could not come to his assistance. He died instantly." + </p> + <p> + By the death of the Emperor the revolution in Switzerland was enabled to + proceed without check. The successor of the Emperor had too much to do in + defending himself against the slayers of his father to think of attacking + the Swiss, and by the time he was at leisure they were too strong to be + attacked. So the Swiss became free. + </p> + <p> + As for William Tell, he retired to his home, and lived there very happily + ever afterwards with his wife and his two sons, who in a few years became + very nearly as skilful in the use of the cross-bow as their father. + </p> + <h2 class="blank"> + EPILOGUE. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Some say the tale related here + Is amplified and twisted; + Some say it isn't very clear + That William Tell existed; + Some say he freed his country <i>so</i>, + The Governor demolished. + Perhaps he did. I only know + That taxes aren't abolished! +</pre> + <hr /> + <h3 class="blank" id="picturebook"> + [Descriptive Verses] + </h3> + <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0" summary=""> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Prologue + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The Swiss, against their Austrian foes, + Had ne'er a soul to lead 'em, + Till Tell, as you've heard tell, arose + And guided them to freedom. + Tell's tale we tell again--an act + For which pray no one scold us-- + This tale of Tell we tell, in fact, + As this Tell tale was told us. +</pre> + </td> + <td> + + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate I + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Beneath a tyrant foreign yoke, + How love of freedom waxes! + (Especially when foreign folk + Come round collecting taxes.) + The Swiss, held down by Gessler's fist, + Would fain have used evasion; + Yet none there seemed who could resist + His methods of persuasion. +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_01.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_01.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate II + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + And pride so filled this Gessler's soul + (A monarch's pride outclassing), + He stuck his hat up on a pole, + That all might bow in passing. + Then rose the patriot, William Tell-- + "We've groaned 'neath Austria's sway first; + Must we be ruled by poles as well? + I've just a word to say first!" +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_02.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_02.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate III + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The crowd about the pole at morn + Used various "persuaders"-- + They flung old cans (to prove their scorn + Of all tin-pot invaders); + And cabbage-stumps were freely dealt, + And apples (inexpensive), + And rotten eggs (to show they felt + A foreign yoke offensive). +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_03.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_03.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate IV + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Said William Tell, "And has this cuss + For conquest such a passion + He needs must set his cap at us + In this exalted fashion?" + And then the people gave a cry, + 'Twixt joy and apprehension, + To see him pass the symbol by + With studied inattention! +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_04.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_04.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate V + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + At first the sentinel, aghast, + Glared like an angry dumb thing; + Then "Hi!" he shouted, "not so fast, + You're overlooking something!" + The sturdy Tell made no response; + Then through the hills resounded + A mighty thwack upon his sconce-- + The people were astounded. +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_05.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_05.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate VI + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Could Tell an insult such as this + Ignore or pass? I doubt it! + No, no; that patriotic Swiss + Was very cross about it. + The people, interested now, + Exclaimed, "Here! Stop a minute + If there's to be a jolly row, + By Jingo! we'll be in it!" +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_06.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_06.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate VII + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Said Tell, "This satrap of the Duke + Is sore in need of gumption; + With my good bow I will rebuke + Such arrow-gant presumption." + "Stand back!" the soldier says, says he; + "This roughness is unseemly!" + The people cried, "We <i>will</i> be FREE!" + And so they were--extremely! +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_07.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_07.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate VIII + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + They dealt that soldier thump on thump + (He hadn't any notion, + When on Tell's head he raised that bump, + Of raising this commotion); + Tell's arrow sped, the people crowed, + And loudly cheered his action; + While Tell's expressive features showed + A certain satisfaction. +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_08.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_08.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate IX + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Now, when the cat's away, the mice + Are very enterprising, + But cats return, and, in a trice-- + Well, Gessler nipped that rising. + And when those soldiers lodged complaint + (Which truly didn't lack ground), + The people practised self-restraint + And fell into the background. +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_09.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_09.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate X + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + And Tell, before the tyrant hailed, + No patriot you'd have guessed him, + For even his stout bosom quailed + When Gessler thus addressed him:-- + "As you're the crack shot of these Swiss + (I've often heard it said so), + Suppose you take a shot at this, + Placed on your youngster's head--so!" +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_10.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_10.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate XI + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "The bearing," as they say, "of that + Lay in the apple-cation," + And nobody will wonder at + A parent's agitation; + That anguish filled Tell's bosom proud + Needs scarcely to be stated, + And, it will be observed, the crowd + Was also agitated. +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_11.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_11.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate XII + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Said Gessler, "This is all my eye! + Come, hurry up and <i>buck</i> up! + Remember, if you miss, you die-- + That ought to keep your pluck up. + The flying arrow may, no doubt, + Your offspring's bosom enter--" + But here there rose a mighty shout: + "By George! He's scored a centre!" +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_12.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_12.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate XIII + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + But, as the arrow cleft the core, + Cried G. with indignation, + "What was the second arrow for? + Come, no e-quiver-cation! + You had a second in your fist." + Said Tell, the missile grippin', + "This shaft (had I that apple missed) + Was meant for you, my pippin!" +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_13.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_13.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate XIV + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + With rage the tyrant said, said he, + "It's time to stop this prating; + I find your style of repartee + Extremely irritating. + You'll hang for this, be pleased to note." + On this they bound and gagged him + (For Gessler's castle booked by boat), + And through the village dragged him. +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_14.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_14.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Plate XV + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + But slips between the cup and lip, + When least expected, peer through-- + A storm arose upon the trip + Which Tell alone could steer through. + Thus, of all hands he quickly got + (As you may see) the upper, + At Gessler took a parting shot, + And hurried home to supper. +</pre> + </td> + <td> + <div class="fig" style="width:50%;"> + <img src="images/plate_15.jpeg" alt=" " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <h5> + <a href="images/plate_15.jpeg"><img src="images/enlarge.jpg" alt="" /> + </a> + </h5> + </td> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <th align="left"> + Epilogue + </th> + </tr> + <tr valign="top"> + <td> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Some say the tale related here + Is amplified and twisted; + Some say it isn't very clear + That William Tell existed; + Some say he freed his country <i>so</i>, + The Governor demolished. + Perhaps he did. I only know + That taxes aren't abolished! +</pre> + </td> + <td> + + </td> + </tr> + </table> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of William Tell Told Again, by +P. G. Wodehouse and John W. Houghton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN *** + +***** This file should be named 7298-h.htm or 7298-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/2/9/7298/ + +Produced by Branko Collin, Suzanne L. 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b/7298-h/images/plate_15.jpeg diff --git a/7298.txt b/7298.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c735f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/7298.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2682 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of William Tell Told Again, by +P. G. Wodehouse and John W. Houghton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: William Tell Told Again + +Author: P. G. Wodehouse + John W. Houghton + +Illustrator: Philip Dadd + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7298] +First posted: April 9, 2003 +Last Updated: May 30, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Branko Collin, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, and the +Oxford College Library of Emory University + + + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: _William Tell Told Again_ is two children's books +in one. One is a picture book--16 full-color illustrations by Philip +Dadd described in verse by John W. Houghton. The other is a humorous +novel by P. G. Wodehouse, based on the picture book. The novel has a +lengthier storyline, a more intricate plot, and more characterization. +The bound volume intermingled the picture book with the novel, +illustrations and poems appearing at regular intervals. Most pictures +and verses were distant from the page of the novel that they reflected. + +For this text version, placeholders for the illustrations (with plate +numbers) have been inserted following the paragraph in the novel that +describes the events being illustrated. The verse descriptions of the +illustrations, labelled with plate numbers, have been moved to the end +of the novel, so as not to disrupt the story. Each verse also has an +illustration placeholder that includes the phrase from the novel shown +as a description on the List of Illustrations.] + + +[Illustration: Frontispiece] + + + + + + +WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN + + + + +BY P. G. WODEHOUSE + +1904 + + +WITH +ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR BY PHILIP DADD +DESCRIBED IN VERSE BY JOHN W. HOUGHTON + + + + +[Dedication] +TO BIDDY O'SULLIVAN +FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +SOMETIMES IT WAS ONLY A BIRD [Frontispiece] + +GESSLER'S METHODS OF PERSUASION [Plate I] + +THEY WOULD MARCH ABOUT, BEATING TIN CANS AND SHOUTING [Plate II] + +AN EGG FLEW ACROSS THE MEADOW, AND BURST OVER LEUTHOLD'S SHOULDER +[Plate III] + +"HERE! HI!" SHOUTED THE SOLDIERS, "STOP!" [Plate IV] + +THEY SAW FRIESSHARDT RAISE HIS PIKE, AND BRING IT DOWN WITH ALL HIS +FORCE ON TELL'S HEAD [Plate V] + +"LOOK HERE!" HE BEGAN. "LOOK THERE!" SAID FRIESSHARDT [Plate VI] + +FRIESSHARDT RUSHED TO STOP HIM [Plate VII] + +THE CROWD DANCED AND SHOUTED [Plate VIII] + +"COME, COME, COME!" SAID GESSLER, "TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT" [Plate IX] + +"I HAVE HERE AN APPLE" [Plate X] + +THERE WAS A STIR OF EXCITEMENT IN THE CROWD [Plate XI] + +A MOMENT'S SUSPENSE, AND THEN A TERRIFIC CHEER AROSE FROM THE +SPECTATORS [Plate XII] + +"SEIZE THAT MAN!" HE SHOUTED [Plate XIII] + +HE WAS LED AWAY TO THE SHORE OF THE LAKE [Plate XIV] + +TELL'S SECOND ARROW HAD FOUND ITS MARK [Plate XV] + + + + + + The Swiss, against their Austrian foes, + Had ne'er a soul to lead 'em, + Till Tell, as you've heard tell, arose + And guided them to freedom. + Tell's tale we tell again--an act + For which pray no one scold us-- + This tale of Tell we tell, in fact, + As this Tell tale was told us. + + + + + +WILLIAM TELL + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Once upon a time, more years ago than anybody can remember, before the +first hotel had been built or the first Englishman had taken a +photograph of Mont Blanc and brought it home to be pasted in an album +and shown after tea to his envious friends, Switzerland belonged to the +Emperor of Austria, to do what he liked with. + +One of the first things the Emperor did was to send his friend Hermann +Gessler to govern the country. Gessler was not a nice man, and it soon +became plain that he would never make himself really popular with the +Swiss. The point on which they disagreed in particular was the question +of taxes. The Swiss, who were a simple and thrifty people, objected to +paying taxes of any sort. They said they wanted to spend their money on +all kinds of other things. Gessler, on the other hand, wished to put a +tax on everything, and, being Governor, he did it. He made everyone who +owned a flock of sheep pay a certain sum of money to him; and if the +farmer sold his sheep and bought cows, he had to pay rather more money +to Gessler for the cows than he had paid for the sheep. Gessler also +taxed bread, and biscuits, and jam, and buns, and lemonade, and, in +fact, everything he could think of, till the people of Switzerland +determined to complain. They appointed Walter Fuerst, who had red hair +and looked fierce; Werner Stauffacher, who had gray hair and was always +wondering how he ought to pronounce his name; and Arnold of Melchthal, +who had light-yellow hair and was supposed to know a great deal about +the law, to make the complaint. They called on the Governor one lovely +morning in April, and were shown into the Hall of Audience. + +"Well," said Gessler, "and what's the matter now?" + +The other two pushed Walter Fuerst forward because he looked fierce, and +they thought he might frighten the Governor. + +Walter Fuerst coughed. + +"Well?" asked Gessler. + +"Er--ahem!" said Walter Fuerst. + +"That's the way," whispered Werner; "_give_ it him!" + +"Er--ahem!" +said Walter Fuerst again; "the fact is, your Governorship--" + +"It's a small point," interrupted Gessler, "but I'm generally called +'your Excellency.' Yes?" + +"The fact is, your Excellency, it seems to the people of Switzerland--" + +"--Whom I represent," whispered Arnold of Melchthal. + +"--Whom I represent, that things want changing." + +"What things?" inquired Gessler. + +"The taxes, your excellent Governorship." + +"Change the taxes? Why, don't the people of Switzerland think there are +enough taxes?" + +Arnold of Melchthal broke in hastily. + +"They think there are many too many," he said. "What with the tax on +sheep, and the tax on cows, and the tax on bread, and the tax on tea, +and the tax--" + +"I know, _I_ know," Gessler interrupted; "I know all the taxes. +Come to the point. What about 'em?" + +"Well, your Excellency, there are too many of them." + +"Too many!" + +"Yes. And we are not going to put up with it any longer!" shouted +Arnold of Melchthal. + +Gessler leaned forward in his throne. + +"Might I ask you to repeat that remark?" he said. + +"We are not going to put up with it any longer!" + +Gessler sat back again with an ugly smile. + +"Oh," he said--"oh, indeed! You aren't, aren't you! Desire the Lord +High Executioner to step this way," he added to a soldier who stood +beside him. + +The Lord High Executioner entered the presence. He was a kind-looking +old gentleman with white hair, and he wore a beautiful black robe, +tastefully decorated with death's-heads. + +"Your Excellency sent for me?" he said. + +"Just so," replied Gessler. "This gentleman here"--he pointed to Arnold +of Melchthal--"says he does not like taxes, and that he isn't going to +put up with them any longer." + +"Tut-tut!" murmured the executioner. + +"See what you can do for him." + +"Certainly, your Excellency. Robert," he cried, "is the oil on the +boil?" + +"Just this minute boiled over," replied a voice from the other side of +the door. + +"Then bring it in, and mind you don't spill any." + +Enter Robert, in a suit of armour and a black mask, carrying a large +caldron, from which the steam rose in great clouds. + +"Now, sir, if you please," said the executioner politely to Arnold of +Melchthal. + +Arnold looked at the caldron. + +"Why, it's hot," he said. + +"Warmish," admitted the executioner. + +"It's against the law to threaten a man with hot oil." + +[Illustration: PLATE I] + +"You may bring an action against me," said the executioner. "Now, sir, +if _you_ please. We are wasting time. The forefinger of your left +hand, if I may trouble you. Thank you. I am obliged." + +He took Arnold's left hand, and dipped the tip of the first finger into +the oil. + +"Ow!" cried Arnold, jumping. + +"Don't let him see he's hurting you," whispered Werner Stauffacher. +"Pretend you don't notice it." + +Gessler leaned forward again. + +"Have your views on taxes changed at all?" he asked. "Do you see my +point of view more clearly now?" + +Arnold admitted that he thought that, after all, there might be +something to be said for it. + +"That's right," said the Governor. "And the tax on sheep? You don't +object to that?" + +"No." + +"And the tax on cows?" + +"I like it." + +"And those on bread, and buns, and lemonade?" + +"I enjoy them." + +"Excellent. In fact, you're quite contented?" + +"Quite." + +"And you think the rest of the people are?" + +"Oh, quite, quite!" + +"And do you think the same?" he asked of Walter and Werner. + +"Oh _yes_, your Excellency!" they cried. + +"Then _that's_ all right," said Gessler. "I was sure you would be +sensible about it. Now, if you will kindly place in the tambourine +which the gentleman on my left is presenting to you a mere trifle to +compensate us for our trouble in giving you an audience, and if you" +(to Arnold of Melchthal) "will contribute an additional trifle for use +of the Imperial boiling oil, I think we shall all be satisfied. You've +done it? _That's_ right. Good-bye, and mind the step as you go +out." + +And, as he finished this speech, the three spokesmen of the people of +Switzerland were shown out of the Hall of Audience. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +They were met in the street outside by a large body of their +fellow-citizens, who had accompanied them to the Palace, and who had +been spending the time since their departure in listening by turns at +the keyhole of the front-door. But as the Hall of Audience was at the +other side of the Palace, and cut off from the front-door by two other +doors, a flight of stairs, and a long passage, they had not heard very +much of what had gone on inside, and they surrounded the three spokesmen +as they came out, and questioned them eagerly. + +"Has he taken off the tax on jam?" asked Ulric the smith. + +"What is he going to do about the tax on mixed biscuits?" shouted Klaus +von der Flue, who was a chimney-sweep of the town and loved mixed +biscuits. + +"Never mind about tea and mixed biscuits!" cried his neighbour, Meier +of Sarnen. "What I want to know is whether we shall have to pay for +keeping sheep any more." + +"What _did_ the Governor say?" asked Jost Weiler, a practical man, +who liked to go straight to the point. + +The three spokesmen looked at one another a little doubtfully. + +"We-e-ll," said Werner Stauffacher at last, "as a matter of fact, he +didn't actually _say_ very much. It was more what he _did_, +if you understand me, than what he said." + +"I should describe His Excellency the Governor," said Walter Fuerst, "as +a man who has got a way with him--a man who has got all sorts of +arguments at his finger-tips." + +At the mention of finger-tips, Arnold of Melchthal uttered a sharp +howl. + +"In short," continued Walter, "after a few minutes' very interesting +conversation he made us see that it really wouldn't do, and that we +must go on paying the taxes as before." + +There was a dead silence for several minutes, while everybody looked at +everybody else in dismay. + +The silence was broken by Arnold of Sewa. Arnold of Sewa had been +disappointed at not being chosen as one of the three spokesmen, and he +thought that if he had been so chosen all this trouble would not have +occurred. + +"The fact is," he said bitterly, "that you three have failed to do what +you were sent to do. I mention no names--far from it--but I don't mind +saying that there are some people in this town who would have given a +better account of themselves. What you want in little matters of this +sort is, if I may say so, tact. Tact; that's what you want. Of course, +if you _will_ go rushing into the Governor's presence--" + +"But we didn't rush," said Walter Fuerst. + +"--Shouting out that you want the taxes abolished--" + +"But we didn't shout," said Walter Fuerst. + +"I really cannot speak if I am to be constantly interrupted," said +Arnold of Sewa severely. "What I say is, that you ought to employ tact. +Tact; that's what you want. If I had been chosen to represent the Swiss +people in this affair--I am not saying I ought to have been, mind you; +I merely say _if_ I had been--I should have acted rather after the +following fashion: Walking firmly, but not defiantly, into the tyrant's +presence, I should have broken the ice with some pleasant remark about +the weather. The conversation once started, the rest would have been +easy. I should have said that I hoped His Excellency had enjoyed a good +dinner. Once on the subject of food, and it would have been the +simplest of tasks to show him how unnecessary taxes on food were, and +the whole affair would have been pleasantly settled while you waited. I +do not imply that the Swiss people would have done better to have +chosen me as their representative. I merely say that that is how I +should have acted had they done so." + +And Arnold of Sewa twirled his moustache and looked offended. His +friends instantly suggested that he should be allowed to try where the +other three had failed, and the rest of the crowd, beginning to hope +once more, took up the cry. The result was that the visitors' bell of +the Palace was rung for the second time. Arnold of Sewa went in, and +the door was banged behind him. + +Five minutes later he came out, sucking the first finger of his left +hand. + +"No," he said; "it can't be done. The tyrant has convinced me." + +"I knew he would," said Arnold of Melchthal. + +"Then I think you might have warned me," snapped Arnold of Sewa, +dancing with the pain of his burnt finger. + +"Was it hot?" + +"Boiling." + +"Ah!" + +"Then he really won't let us off the taxes?" asked the crowd in +disappointed voices. + +"No." + +"Then the long and short of it is," said Walter Fuerst, drawing a deep +breath, "that we must rebel!" + +"Rebel?" cried everybody. + +"Rebel!" repeated Walter firmly. + +"We will!" cried everybody. + +"Down with the tyrant!" shouted Walter Fuerst. + +"Down with the taxes!" shrieked the crowd. + +A scene of great enthusiasm followed. The last words were spoken by +Werner Stauffacher. + +"We want a leader," he said. + +"I don't wish to thrust myself forward," began Arnold of Sewa, "but I +must say, if it comes to leading--" + +"And I know the very man for the job," said Werner Stauffacher. +"William Tell!" + +"Hurrah for William Tell!" roared the crowd, and, taking the time from +Werner Stauffacher, they burst into the grand old Swiss chant which +runs as follows: + + "For he's a jolly good fellow! + For he's a jolly good fellow!! + For he's a jolly good fe-e-ll-ow!!!! + And so say all of us!" + +And having sung this till they were all quite hoarse, they went off to +their beds to get a few hours' sleep before beginning the labours of +the day. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +In a picturesque little chalet high up in the mountains, covered with +snow and edelweiss (which is a flower that grows in the Alps, and you +are not allowed to pick it), dwelt William Tell, his wife Hedwig, and +his two sons, Walter and William. Such a remarkable man was Tell that I +think I must devote a whole chapter to him and his exploits. There was +really nothing he could not do. He was the best shot with the cross-bow +in the whole of Switzerland. He had the courage of a lion, the +sure-footedness of a wild goat, the agility of a squirrel, and a +beautiful beard. If you wanted someone to hurry across desolate +ice-fields, and leap from crag to crag after a chamois, Tell was the +man for your money. If you wanted a man to say rude things to the +Governor, it was to Tell that you applied first. Once when he was +hunting in the wild ravine of Schaechenthal, where men were hardly +ever to be seen, he met the Governor face to face. There was no way +of getting past. On one side the rocky wall rose sheer up, while below +the river roared. Directly Gessler caught sight of Tell striding along +with his cross-bow, his cheeks grew pale and his knees tottered, and he +sat down on a rock feeling very unwell indeed. + +"Aha!" said Tell. "Oho! so it's you, is it? _I_ know you. And a +nice sort of person you are, with your taxes on bread and sheep, aren't +you! You'll come to a bad end one of these days, that's what will +happen to you. Oh, you old reprobate! Pooh!" And he had passed on with +a look of scorn, leaving Gessler to think over what he had said. And +Gessler ever since had had a grudge against him, and was only waiting +for a chance of paying him out. + +"Mark my words," said Tell's wife, Hedwig, when her husband told her +about it after supper that night--"mark my words, he will never +forgive you." + +"I will avoid him," said Tell. "He will not seek me." + +"Well, mind you do," was Hedwig's reply. + +On another occasion, when the Governor's soldiers were chasing a friend +of his, called Baumgarten, and when Baumgarten's only chance of escape +was to cross the lake during a fierce storm, and when the ferryman, +sensibly remarking, "What! must I rush into the jaws of death? No man +that hath his senses would do that!" refused to take out his boat even +for twice his proper fare, and when the soldiers rode down to seize +their prey with dreadful shouts, Tell jumped into the boat, and, rowing +with all his might, brought his friend safe across after a choppy +passage. Which made Gessler the Governor still more angry with him. + +But it was as a marksman that Tell was so extraordinary. There was +nobody in the whole of the land who was half so skilful. He attended +every meeting for miles around where there was a shooting competition, +and every time he won first prize. Even his rivals could not help +praising his skill. "Behold!" they would say, "Tell is quite the +pot-hunter," meaning by the last word a man who always went in for +every prize, and always won it. And Tell would say, "Yes, truly am I +a pot-hunter, for I hunt to fill the family pot." And so he did. He never +came home empty-handed from the chase. Sometimes it was a chamois that +he brought back, and then the family had it roasted on the first day, +cold on the next four, and minced on the sixth, with sippets of toast +round the edge of the dish. Sometimes it was only a bird (as on the +cover of this book), and then Hedwig would say, "Mark my words, this +fowl will not go round." But it always did, and it never happened that +there was not even a fowl to eat. + +[Illustration: Frontispiece] + +In fact, Tell and his family lived a very happy, contented life, in +spite of the Governor Gessler and his taxes. + +Tell was very patriotic. He always believed that some day the Swiss +would rise and rebel against the tyranny of the Governor, and he used +to drill his two children so as to keep them always in a state of +preparation. They would march about, beating tin cans and shouting, and +altogether enjoying themselves immensely, though Hedwig, who did not +like noise, and wanted Walter and William to help her with the +housework, made frequent complaints. "Mark my words," she would say, +"this growing spirit of militarism in the young and foolish will lead +to no good," meaning that boys who played at soldiers instead of +helping their mother to dust the chairs and scrub the kitchen floor +would in all probability come to a bad end. But Tell would say, "Who +hopes to fight his way through life must be prepared to wield arms. +Carry on, my boys!" And they carried on. It was to this man that the +Swiss people had determined to come for help. + +[Illustration: PLATE II] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Talking matters over in the inn of the town, the Glass and Glacier, the +citizens came to the conclusion that they ought to appoint three +spokesmen to go and explain to Tell just what they wanted him to do. + +"I don't wish to seem to boast at all," said Arnold of Sewa, "but I +think I had better be one of the three." + +"I was thinking," said Werner Stauffacher, "that it would be a pity +always to be chopping and changing. Why not choose the same three as +were sent to Gessler?" + +"I don't desire to be unpleasant at all," replied Arnold of Sewa, "but +I must be forgiven for reminding the honourable gentleman who has just +spoken that he and his equally honourable friends did not meet with the +best of success when they called upon the Governor." + +"Well, and you didn't either!" snapped Arnold of Melchthal, whose +finger still hurt him, and made him a little bad-tempered. + +"That," said Arnold of Sewa, "I put down entirely to the fact that you +and your friends, by not exercising tact, irritated the Governor, and +made him unwilling to listen to anybody else. Nothing is more important +in these affairs than tact. That's what you want--tact. But have it +your own way. Don't mind _me!_" + +And the citizens did not. They chose Werner Stauffacher, Arnold of +Melchthal, and Walter Fuerst, and, having drained their glasses, the +three trudged up the steep hill which led to Tell's house. + +It had been agreed that everyone should wait at the Glass and Glacier +until the three spokesmen returned, in order that they might hear the +result of their mission. Everybody was very anxious. A revolution +without Tell would be quite impossible, and it was not unlikely that +Tell might refuse to be their leader. The worst of a revolution is +that, if it fails, the leader is always executed as an example to the +rest. And many people object to being executed, however much it may set +a good example to their friends. On the other hand, Tell was a brave +man and a patriot, and might be only too eager to try to throw off the +tyrant's yoke, whatever the risk. They had waited about an hour, when +they saw the three spokesmen coming down the hill. Tell was not with +them, a fact which made the citizens suspect that he had refused their +offer. The first thing a man does when he has accepted the leadership +of a revolution is to come and plot with his companions. + +"Well?" said everybody eagerly, as the three arrived. + +Werner Stauffacher shook his head. + +"Ah," said Arnold of Sewa, "I see what it is. He has refused. You +didn't exercise tact, and he refused." + +"We _did_ exercise tact," said Stauffacher indignantly; "but he +would not be persuaded. It was like this: We went to the house and +knocked at the door. Tell opened it. 'Good-morning,' I said. + +"'Good-morning,' said he. 'Take a seat.' + +"I took a seat. + +"'My heart is full,' I said, 'and longs to speak with you.' I thought +that a neat way of putting it." + +The company murmured approval. + +"'A heavy heart,' said Tell, 'will not +grow light with words.'" + +"Not bad that!" murmured Jost Weiler. "Clever way of putting things, +Tell has got." + +"'Yet words,' I said, 'might lead us on to deeds.'" + +"Neat," said Jost Weiler--"very neat. Yes?" + +"To which Tell's extraordinary reply was: 'The only thing to do is to +sit still.' + +"'What!' I said; 'bear in silence things unbearable?' + +"'Yes,' said Tell; 'to peaceable men peace is gladly granted. When the +Governor finds that his oppression does not make us revolt, he will +grow tired of oppressing.'" + +"And what did you say to that?" asked Ulric the smith. + +"I said he did not know the Governor if he thought he could ever grow +tired of oppressing. 'We might do much,' I said, 'if we held fast +together. Union is strength,' I said. + +"'The strong,' said Tell, 'is strongest when he stands alone.' + +"'Then our country must not count on thee,' I said, 'when in despair +she stands on self-defence?' + +"'Oh, well,' he said, 'hardly that, perhaps. I don't want to desert +you. What I mean to say is, I'm no use as a plotter or a counsellor and +that sort of thing. Where I come out strong is in deeds. So don't +invite me to your meetings and make me speak, and that sort of thing; +but if you want a man to _do_ anything--why, that's where I shall +come in, you see. Just write if you want me--a postcard will do--and +you will not find William Tell hanging back. No, sir.' And with those +words he showed us out." + +"Well," said Jost Weiler, "I call that encouraging. All we have to do +now is to plot. Let us plot." + +"Yes, let's!" shouted everybody. + +Ulric the smith rapped for silence on the table. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "our friend Mr. Klaus von der Flue will now read +a paper on 'Governors--their drawbacks, and how to get rid of them.' +Silence, gentlemen, please. Now, then, Klaus, old fellow, speak up and +get it over." + +And the citizens settled down without further delay to a little serious +plotting. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +A few days after this, Hedwig gave Tell a good talking to on the +subject of his love for adventure. He was sitting at the door of his +house mending an axe. Hedwig, as usual, was washing up. Walter and +William were playing with a little cross-bow not far off. + +"Father," said Walter. + +"Yes, my boy?" + +"My bow-string has bust." ("Bust" was what all Swiss boys said when +they meant "broken.") + +"You must mend it yourself, my boy," said Tell. "A sportsman always +helps himself." + +"What _I_ say," said Hedwig, bustling out of the house, "is that a +boy of his age has no business to be shooting. I don't like it." + +"Nobody can shoot well if he does not begin to practise early. Why, +when I was a boy--I remember on one occasion, when--" + +"What _I_ say," interrupted Hedwig, "is that a boy ought not to +want always to be shooting, and what not. He ought to stay at home and +help his mother. And I wish you would set them a better example." + +"Well, the fact is, you know," said Tell, "I don't think Nature meant +me to be a stay-at-home and that sort of thing. I couldn't be a +herdsman if you paid me. I shouldn't know what to do. No; everyone has +his special line, and mine is hunting. Now, I _can_ hunt." + +"A nasty, dangerous occupation," said Hedwig. "I don't like to hear of +your being lost on desolate ice-fields, and leaping from crag to crag, +and what not. Some day, mark my words, if you are not careful, you will +fall down a precipice, or be overtaken by an avalanche, or the ice will +break while you are crossing it. There are a thousand ways in which you +might get hurt." + +"A man of ready wit with a quick eye," replied Tell complacently, +"never gets hurt. The mountain has no terror for her children. I am a +child of the mountain." + +"You are certainly a child!" snapped Hedwig. "It is no use my arguing +with you." + +"Not very much," agreed Tell, "for I am just off to the town. I have an +appointment with your papa and some other gentlemen." + +(I forgot to say so before, but Hedwig was the daughter of Walter +Fuerst.) + +"Now, _what_ are you and papa plotting?" asked Hedwig. "I know +there is something going on. I suspected it when papa brought Werner +Stauffacher and the other man here, and you wouldn't let me listen. +What is it? Some dangerous scheme, I suppose?" + +"Now, how in the world do you get those sort of ideas into your head?" +Tell laughed. "Dangerous scheme! As if I should plot dangerous schemes +with your papa!" + +"I know," said Hedwig. "You can't deceive _me!_ There is a plot +afoot against the Governor, and you are in it." + +"A man must help his country." + +"They're sure to place you where there is most danger. I know them. +Don't go. Send Walter down with a note to say that you regret that an +unfortunate previous engagement, which you have just recollected, will +make it impossible for you to accept their kind invitation to plot." + +"No; I must go." + +"And there is another thing," continued Hedwig: "Gessler the Governor +is in the town now." + +"He goes away to-day." + +"Well, wait till he has gone. You must not meet him. He bears you +malice." + +"To me his malice cannot do much harm. I do what's right, and fear no +enemy." + +"Those who do right," said Hedwig, "are those he hates the most. And +you know he has never forgiven you for speaking like that when you met +him in the ravine. Keep away from the town for to-day. Do anything +else. Go hunting, if you will." + +"No," said Tell; "I promised. I must go. Come along, Walter." + +"You _aren't_ going to take that poor _dear_ child? Come +here, Walter, directly minute!' + +"Want to go with father," said Walter, beginning to cry, for his father +had promised to take him with him the next time he went to the town, +and he had saved his pocket-money for the occasion. + +"Oh, let the boy come," said Tell. "William will stay with you, won't +you, William?" + +"All right, father," said William. + +"Well, mark my words," said Hedwig, "if something bad does not happen I +shall be surprised." + +"Oh no," said Tell. "What can happen?" + +And without further delay he set off with Walter for the town. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +In the meantime all kinds of things of which Tell had no suspicion had +been happening in the town. The fact that there were no newspapers in +Switzerland at that time often made him a little behindhand as regarded +the latest events. He had to depend, as a rule, on visits from his +friends, who would sit in his kitchen and tell him all about everything +that had been going on for the last few days. And, of course, when +there was anything very exciting happening in the town, nobody had time +to trudge up the hill to Tell's chalet. They all wanted to be in the +town enjoying the fun. + +What had happened now was this. It was the chief amusement of the +Governor, Gessler (who, you will remember, was _not_ a nice man), +when he had a few moments to spare from the cares of governing, to sit +down and think out some new way of annoying the Swiss people. He was +one of those persons who + + "only do it to annoy, + Because they know it teases." + +What he liked chiefly was to forbid something. He would find out what +the people most enjoyed doing, and then he would send a herald to say +that he was very sorry, but it must stop. He found that this annoyed +the Swiss more than anything. But now he was rather puzzled what to do, +for he had forbidden everything he could think of. He had forbidden +dancing and singing, and playing on any sort of musical instrument, on +the ground that these things made such a noise, and disturbed people +who wanted to work. He had forbidden the eating of everything except +bread and the simplest sorts of meat, because he said that anything +else upset people, and made them unfit to do anything except sit still +and say how ill they were. And he had forbidden all sorts of games, +because he said they were a waste of time. + +So that now, though he wanted dreadfully to forbid something else, he +could not think of anything. + +Then he had an idea, and this was it: + +He told his servants to cut a long pole. And they cut a very long pole. +Then he said to them, "Go into the hall and bring me one of my hats. +Not my best hat, which I wear on Sundays and on State occasions; nor +yet my second-best, which I wear every day; nor yet, again, the one I +wear when I am out hunting, for all these I need. Fetch me, rather, the +oldest of my hats." And they fetched him the very oldest of his hats. +Then he said, "Put it on top of the pole." And they put it right on top +of the pole. And, last of all, he said, "Go and set up the pole in the +middle of the meadow just outside the gates of the town." And they went +and set up the pole in the very middle of the meadow just outside the +gates of the town. + +Then he sent his heralds out to north and south and east and west to +summon the people together, because he said he had something very +important and special to say to them. And the people came in tens, and +fifties, and hundreds, men, women, and children; and they stood waiting +in front of the Palace steps till Gessler the Governor should come out +and say something very important and special to them. + +And punctually at eleven o'clock, Gessler, having finished a capital +breakfast, came out on to the top step and spoke to them. + +"Ladies and gentlemen,"--he began. (A voice from the crowd: "Speak +up!") + +"Ladies and gentlemen," he began again, in a louder voice, "if I could +catch the man who said 'Speak up!' I would have him bitten in the neck +by wild elephants. (Applause.) I have called you to this place to-day +to explain to you my reason for putting up a pole, on the top of which +is one of my caps, in the meadow just outside the city gates. It is +this: You all, I know, respect and love me." Here he paused for the +audience to cheer, but as they remained quite silent he went on: "You +would all, I know, like to come to my Palace every day and do reverence +to me. (A voice: 'No, no!') If I could catch the man who said 'No, no!' +I would have him stung on the soles of the feet by pink scorpions; and +if he was the same man who said 'Speak up!' a little while ago, the +number of scorpions should be doubled. (Loud applause.) As I was saying +before I was interrupted, I know you would like to come to my Palace +and do reverence to me there. But, as you are many and space is +limited, I am obliged to refuse you that pleasure. However, being +anxious not to disappoint you, I have set up my cap in the meadow, and +you may do reverence to _that_. In fact, you _must_. Everybody is +to look on that cap as if it were me. (A voice: 'It ain't so ugly as +you!') If I could catch the man who made that remark I would have him +tied up and teased by trained bluebottles. (Deafening applause.) In +fact, to put the matter briefly, if anybody crosses that meadow without +bowing down before that cap, my soldiers will arrest him, and I will +have him pecked on the nose by infuriated blackbirds. So there! +Soldiers, move that crowd on!" + +And Gessler disappeared indoors again, just as a volley of eggs and +cabbages whistled through the air. And the soldiers began to hustle the +crowd down the various streets till the open space in front of the +Palace gates was quite cleared of them. All this happened the day +before Tell and Walter set out for the town. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Having set up the pole and cap in the meadow, Gessler sent two of his +bodyguard, Friesshardt (I should think you would be safe in pronouncing +this Freeze-hard, but you had better ask somebody who knows) and +Leuthold, to keep watch there all day, and see that nobody passed by +without kneeling down before the pole and taking off his hat to it. + +But the people, who prided themselves on being what they called +_ueppen zie schnuffen_, or, as we should say, "up to snuff," and +equal to every occasion, had already seen a way out of the difficulty. +They knew that if they crossed the meadow they must bow down before the +pole, which they did not want to do, so it occurred to them that an +ingenious way of preventing this would be not to cross the meadow. So +they went the long way round, and the two soldiers spent a lonely day. + +"What I sez," said Friesshardt, "is, wot's the use of us wasting our +time here?" (Friesshardt was not a very well-educated man, and he did +not speak good grammar.) "None of these here people ain't a-going to +bow down to that there hat. Of course they ain't. Why, I can remember +the time when this meadow was like a fair--everybody a-shoving and +a-jostling one another for elbow-room; and look at it now! It's a desert. +That's what it is, a desert. What's the good of us wasting of our time +here, I sez. That's what I sez. + +"And they're artful, too, mind yer," he continued. "Why, only this +morning, I sez to myself, 'Friesshardt,' I sez, 'you just wait till +twelve o'clock,' I sez, ''cos that's when they leave the council-house, +and then they'll _have_ to cross the meadow. And then we'll see +what we _shall_ see,' I sez. Like that, I sez. Bitter-like, yer +know. 'We'll see,' I sez, 'what we _shall_ see.' So I waited, and +at twelve o'clock out they came, dozens of them, and began to cross the +meadow. 'And now,' sez I to myself, 'look out for larks.' But what +happened? Why, when they came to the pole, the priest stood in front of +it, and the sacristan rang the bell, and they all fell down on their +knees. But they were saying their prayers, not doing obeisance to the +hat. That's what _they_ were doing. Artful--that's what _they_ are!" + +And Friesshardt kicked the foot of the pole viciously with his iron +boot. + +"It's my belief," said Leuthold (Leuthold is the thin soldier you see +in the picture)--"it's my firm belief that they are laughing at us. +There! Listen to that!" + +A voice made itself heard from behind a rock not far off. + +"Where did you get that hat?" said the voice. + +"There!" grumbled Leuthold; "they're always at it. Last time it was, +'Who's your hatter?' Why, we're the laughing-stock of the place. We're +like two rogues in a pillory. 'Tis rank disgrace for one who wears a +sword to stand as sentry o'er an empty hat. To make obeisance to a hat! +I' faith, such a command is downright foolery!" + +"Well," said Friesshardt, "and why not bow before an empty hat? Thou +hast oft bow'd before an empty skull. Ha, ha! I was always one for a +joke, yer know." + +"Here come some people," said Leuthold. "At last! And they're only the +rabble, after all. You don't catch any of the better sort of people +coming here." + +A crowd was beginning to collect on the edge of the meadow. Its numbers +swelled every minute, until quite a hundred of the commoner sort must +have been gathered together. They stood pointing at the pole and +talking among themselves, but nobody made any movement to cross the +meadow. + +At last somebody shouted "Yah!" + +The soldiers took no notice. + +Somebody else cried "Booh!"' + +"Pass along there, pass along!" said the soldiers. + +Cries of "Where did you get that hat?" began to come from the body of +the crowd. When the Swiss invented a catch-phrase they did not drop it +in a hurry. + +"Where--did--you--get--that--HAT?" they shouted. + +Friesshardt and Leuthold stood like two statues in armour, paying no +attention to the remarks of the rabble. This annoyed the rabble. They +began to be more personal. + +"You in the second-hand lobster-tin," shouted one--he meant +Friesshardt, whose suit of armour, though no longer new, hardly +deserved this description--"who's your hatter?" + +"Can't yer see," shouted a friend, when Friesshardt made no reply, "the +pore thing ain't alive? 'E's stuffed!" + +Roars of laughter greeted this sally. Friesshardt, in spite of the fact +that he enjoyed a joke, turned pink. + +"'E's blushing!" shrieked a voice. + +Friesshardt turned purple. + +Then things got still more exciting. + +"'Ere," said a rough voice in the crowd impatiently, "wot's the good of +_torkin'_ to 'em? Gimme that 'ere egg, missus!" + +And in another instant an egg flew across the meadow, and burst over +Leuthold's shoulder. The crowd howled with delight. This was something +_like_ fun, thought they, and the next moment eggs, cabbages, +cats, and missiles of every sort darkened the air. The two soldiers +raved and shouted, but did not dare to leave their post. At last, just +as the storm was at its height, it ceased, as if by magic. Everyone in +the crowd turned round, and, as he turned, jumped into the air and +waved his hat. + +[Illustration: PLATE III] + +A deafening cheer went up. + +"Hurrah!" cried the mob; "here comes good old Tell! _Now_ there's +going to be a jolly row!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Tell came striding along, Walter by his side, and his cross-bow over +his shoulder. He knew nothing about the hat having been placed on the +pole, and he was surprised to see such a large crowd gathered in the +meadow. He bowed to the crowd in his polite way, and the crowd gave +three cheers and one more, and he bowed again. + +"Hullo!" said Walter suddenly; "look at that hat up there, father. On +the pole." + +"What is the hat to us?" said Tell; and he began to walk across the +meadow with an air of great dignity, and Walter walked by his side, +trying to look just like him. + +"Here! hi!" shouted the soldiers. "Stop! You haven't bowed down to the +cap." + +[Illustration: PLATE IV] + +Tell looked scornful, but said nothing. Walter looked still more +scornful. + +"Ho, there!" shouted Friesshardt, standing in front of him. "I bid you +stand in the Emperor's name." + +"My good fellow," said Tell, "please do not bother me. I am in a hurry. +I really have nothing for you." + +"My orders is," said Friesshardt, "to stand in this 'ere meadow and to +see as how all them what passes through it does obeisance to that there +hat. Them's Governor's orders, them is. So now." + +"My good fellow," said Tell, "let me pass. I shall get cross, I know I +shall." + +Shouts of encouragement from the crowd, who were waiting patiently for +the trouble to begin. + +"Go it, Tell!" they cried. "Don't stand talking to him. Hit him a +kick!" + +Friesshardt became angrier every minute. + +"My orders is," he said again, "to arrest them as don't bow down to the +hat, and for two pins, young feller, I'll arrest you. So which is it to +be? Either you bow down to that there hat or you come along of me." + +Tell pushed him aside, and walked on with his chin in the air. Walter +went with him, with his chin in the air. + +WHACK! + +A howl of dismay went up from the crowd as they saw Friesshardt raise +his pike and bring it down with all his force on Tell's head. The sound +of the blow went echoing through the meadow and up the hills and down +the valleys. + +[Illustration: PLATE V] + +"Ow!" cried Tell. + +"_Now_," thought the crowd, "things must begin to get exciting." + +Tell's first idea was that one of the larger mountains in the +neighbourhood had fallen on top of him. Then he thought that there must +have been an earthquake. Then it gradually dawned upon him that he had +been hit by a mere common soldier with a pike. Then he _was_ +angry. + +"Look here!" he began. + +"Look there!" said Friesshardt, pointing to the cap. + +[Illustration: PLATE VI] + +"You've hurt my head very much," said Tell. "Feel the bump. If I hadn't +happened to have a particularly hard head I don't know what might not +have happened;" and he raised his fist and hit Friesshardt; but as +Friesshardt was wearing a thick iron helmet the blow did not hurt him +very much. + +But it had the effect of bringing the crowd to Tell's assistance. They +had been waiting all this time for him to begin the fighting, for +though they were very anxious to attack the soldiers, they did not like +to do so by themselves. They wanted a leader. + +So when they saw Tell hit Friesshardt, they tucked up their sleeves, +grasped their sticks and cudgels more tightly, and began to run across +the meadow towards him. + +Neither of the soldiers noticed this. Friesshardt was busy arguing with +Tell, and Leuthold was laughing at Friesshardt. So when the people came +swarming up with their sticks and cudgels they were taken by surprise. +But every soldier in the service of Gessler was as brave as a lion, and +Friesshardt and Leuthold were soon hitting back merrily, and making a +good many of the crowd wish that they had stayed at home. The two +soldiers were wearing armour, of course, so that it was difficult to +hurt them; but the crowd, who wore no armour, found that _they_ +could get hurt very easily. Conrad Hunn, for instance, was attacking +Friesshardt, when the soldier happened to drop his pike. It fell on +Conrad's toe, and Conrad limped away, feeling that fighting was no fun +unless you had thick boots on. + +And so for a time the soldiers had the best of the fight. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +For many minutes the fight raged furiously round the pole, and the +earth shook beneath the iron boots of Friesshardt and Leuthold as they +rushed about, striking out right and left with their fists and the +flats of their pikes. Seppi the cowboy (an ancestor, by the way, of +Buffalo Bill) went down before a tremendous blow by Friesshardt, and +Leuthold knocked Klaus von der Flue head over heels. + +"What you _want_" said Arnold of Sewa, who had seen the beginning +of the fight from the window of his cottage and had hurried to join it, +and, as usual, to give advice to everybody--"what you want here is +guile. That's what you want--guile, cunning. Not brute force, mind you. +It's no good rushing at a man in armour and hitting him. He only hits +you back. You should employ guile. Thus. Observe." + +He had said these words standing on the outskirts of the crowd. He now +grasped his cudgel and began to steal slowly towards Friesshardt, who +had just given Werni the huntsman such a hit with his pike that the +sound of it was still echoing in the mountains, and was now busily +engaged in disposing of Jost Weiler. Arnold of Sewa crept stealthily +behind him, and was just about to bring his cudgel down on his head, +when Leuthold, catching sight of him, saved his comrade by driving his +pike with all his force into Arnold's side. Arnold said afterwards that +it completely took his breath away. He rolled over, and after being +trodden on by everybody for some minutes, got up and limped back to his +cottage, where he went straight to bed, and did not get up for two +days. + +All this time Tell had been standing a little way off with his arms +folded, looking on. While it was a quarrel simply between himself and +Friesshardt he did not mind fighting. But when the crowd joined in he +felt that it was not fair to help so many men attack one, however badly +that one might have behaved. + +He now saw that the time had come to put an end to the disturbance. He +drew an arrow from his quiver, placed it in his crossbow, and pointed +it at the hat. Friesshardt, seeing what he intended to do, uttered a +shout of horror and rushed to stop him. But at that moment somebody in +the crowd hit him so hard with a spade that his helmet was knocked over +his eyes, and before he could raise it again the deed was done. Through +the cap and through the pole and out at the other side sped the arrow. +And the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Tell standing +beside him twirling his moustache, while all around the crowd danced +and shouted and threw their caps into the air with joy. + +[Illustration: PLATE VII] + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII] + +"A mere trifle," said Tell modestly. + +The crowd cheered again and again. + +Friesshardt and Leuthold lay on the ground beside the pole, feeling +very sore and bruised, and thought that perhaps, on the whole, they had +better stay there. There was no knowing what the crowd might do after +this, if they began to fight again. So they lay on the ground and made +no attempt to interfere with the popular rejoicings. What they +_wanted_, as Arnold of Sewa might have said if he had been there, +was a few moments' complete rest. Leuthold's helmet had been hammered +with sticks until it was over his eyes and all out of shape, and +Friesshardt's was very little better. And they both felt just as if +they had been run over in the street by a horse and cart. + +"Tell!" shouted the crowd. "Hurrah for Tell! Good old Tell!" + +"Tell's the boy!" roared Ulric the smith. "Not another man in +Switzerland could have made that shot." + +"No," shrieked everybody, "not another!" + +"Speech!" cried someone from the edge of the crowd. + +"Speech! Speech! Tell, speech!" Everybody took up the cry. + +"No, no," said Tell, blushing. + +"Go on, go on!" shouted the crowd. + +"Oh, I couldn't," said Tell; "I don't know what to say." + +"Anything will do. Speech! Speech!" + +Ulric the smith and Ruodi the fisherman hoisted Tell on to their +shoulders, and, having coughed once or twice, he said: + +"Gentlemen--" + +Cheers from the crowd. + +"Gentlemen," said Tell again, "this is the proudest moment of my life." + +More cheers. + +"I don't know what you want me to talk about. I have never made a +speech before. Excuse my emotion. This is the proudest moment of my +life. To-day is a great day for Switzerland. We have struck the first +blow of the revolution. Let us strike some more." + +Shouts of "Hear, hear!" from the crowd, many of whom, misunderstanding +Tell's last remark, proceeded to hit Leuthold and Friesshardt, until +stopped by cries of "Order!" from Ulric the smith. + +"Gentlemen," continued Tell, "the floodgates of revolution have been +opened. From this day they will stalk through the land burning to ashes +the slough of oppression which our tyrant Governor has erected in our +midst. I have only to add that this is the proudest moment of my life, +and----" + +He was interrupted by a frightened voice. + +"Look out, you chaps," said the voice; "here comes the Governor!" + +Gessler, with a bodyguard of armed men, had entered the meadow, and was +galloping towards them. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Gessler came riding up on his brown horse, and the crowd melted away in +all directions, for there was no knowing what the Governor might not do +if he found them plotting. They were determined to rebel and to throw +off his tyrannous yoke, but they preferred to do it quietly and +comfortably, when he was nowhere near. + +So they ran away to the edge of the meadow, and stood there in groups, +waiting to see what was going to happen. Not even Ulric the smith and +Ruodi the fisherman waited, though they knew quite well that Tell had +not nearly finished his speech. They set the orator down, and began to +walk away, trying to look as if they had been doing nothing in +particular, and were going to go on doing it--only somewhere else. + +Tell was left standing alone in the middle of the meadow by the pole. +He scorned to run away like the others, but he did not at all like the +look of things. Gessler was a stern man, quick to punish any insult, +and there were two of his soldiers lying on the ground with their nice +armour all spoiled and dented, and his own cap on top of the pole had +an arrow right through the middle of it, and would never look the same +again, however much it might be patched. It seemed to Tell that there +was a bad time coming. + +Gessler rode up, and reined in his horse. + +"Now then, now then, now then!" he said, in his quick, abrupt way. +"What's this? what's this? what's this?" + +(When a man repeats what he says three times, you can see that he is +not in a good temper.) + +Friesshardt and Leuthold got up, saluted, and limped slowly towards +him. They halted beside his horse, and stood to attention. The tears +trickled down their cheeks. + +"Come, come, come!" said Gessler; "tell me all about it." + +[Illustration: PLATE IX] + +And he patted Friesshardt on the head. Friesshardt bellowed. + +Gessler beckoned to one of his courtiers. + +"Have you a handkerchief?" he said. + +"I have a handkerchief, your Excellency." + +"Then dry this man's eyes." + +The courtier did as he was bidden. + +"_Now_," said Gessler, when the drying was done, and Friesshardt's +tears had ceased, "what has been happening here? I heard a cry of +'Help!' as I came up. Who cried 'Help!'?" + +"Please, your lordship's noble Excellencyship," said Friesshardt, "it +was me, Friesshardt." + +"You should say, 'It was I,'" said Gessler. "Proceed." + +"Which I am a loyal servant of your Excellency's, and in your +Excellency's army, and seeing as how I was told to stand by this 'ere +pole and guard that there hat, I stood by this 'ere pole, and guarded +that there hat--all day, I did, your Excellency. And then up comes this +man here, and I says to him--'Bow down to the hat,' I says. 'Ho!' he +says to me--'ho, indeed!' and he passed on without so much as nodding. +So I takes my pike, and I taps him on the head to remind him, as you +may say, that there was something he was forgetting, and he ups and +hits me, he does. And then the crowd runs up with their sticks and hits +me and Leuthold cruel, your Excellency. And while we was a-fighting +with them, this here man I'm a-telling you about, your Excellency, he +outs with an arrow, puts it into his bow, and sends it through the hat, +and I don't see how you'll ever be able to wear it again. It's a waste +of a good hat, your Excellency--that's what it is. And then the people, +they puts me and Leuthold on the ground, and hoists this here man--Tell, +they call him--up on their shoulders, and he starts making a speech, +when up you comes, your Excellency. That's how it all was." + +Gessler turned pale with rage, and glared fiercely at Tell, who stood +before him in the grasp of two of the bodyguard. + +"Ah," he said, "Tell, is it? Good-day to you, Tell. I think we've met +before, Tell? Eh, Tell?" + +"We have, your Excellency. It was in the ravine of Schaechenthal," said +Tell firmly. + +"Your memory is good, Tell. So is mine. I think you made a few remarks +to me on that occasion, Tell--a few chatty remarks? Eh, Tell?" + +"Very possibly, your Excellency." + +"You were hardly polite, Tell." + +"If I offended you I am sorry." + +"I am glad to hear it, Tell. I think you will be even sorrier before +long. So you've been ill-treating my soldiers, eh?" + +"It was not I who touched them." + +"Oh, so you didn't touch them? Ah! But you defied my power by refusing +to bow down to the hat. I set up that hat to prove the people's +loyalty. I am afraid you are not loyal, Tell." + +"I was a little thoughtless, not disloyal. I passed the hat without +thinking." + +"You should always think, Tell. It is very dangerous not to do so. And +I suppose that you shot your arrow through the hat without thinking?" + +"I was a little carried away by excitement, your Excellency." + +"Dear, dear! Carried away by excitement, were you? You must really be +more careful, Tell. One of these days you will be getting yourself into +trouble. But it seems to have been a very fine shot. You _are_ a +capital marksman, I believe?" + +"Father's the best shot in all Switzerland," piped a youthful voice. +"He can hit an apple on a tree a hundred yards away. I've seen him. +Can't you, father?" + +Walter, who had run away when the fighting began, had returned on +seeing his father in the hands of the soldiers. + +Gessler turned a cold eye upon him. + +"Who is this?" he asked. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +"It is my son Walter, your Excellency," said Tell. + +"Your son? Indeed. This is very interesting. Have you any more +children?" + +"I have one other boy." + +"And which of them do you love the most, eh?" + +"I love them both alike, your Excellency." + +"Dear me! Quite a happy family. Now, listen to me, Tell. I know you are +fond of excitement, so I am going to try to give you a little. Your son +says that you can hit an apple on a tree a hundred yards away, and I am +sure you have every right to be very proud of such a feat. +Friesshardt!" + +"Your Excellency?" + +"Bring me an apple." + +Friesshardt picked one up. Some apples had been thrown at him and +Leuthold earlier in the day, and there were several lying about. + +"Which I'm afraid as how it's a little bruised, your Excellency," he +said, "having hit me on the helmet." + +"Thank you. I do not require it for eating purposes," said Gessler. +"Now, Tell, I have here an apple--a simple apple, not over-ripe. I +should like to test that feat of yours. So take your bow--I see you +have it in your hand--and get ready to shoot. I am going to put this +apple on your son's head. He will be placed a hundred yards away from +you, and if you do not hit the apple with your first shot your life +shall pay forfeit." + +[Illustration: PLATE X] + +And he regarded Tell with a look of malicious triumph. + +"Your Excellency, it cannot be!" cried Tell; "the thing is too +monstrous. Perhaps your Excellency is pleased to jest. You cannot bid a +father shoot an apple from off his son's head! Consider, your +Excellency!" + +"You shall shoot the apple from off the head of this boy," said Gessler +sternly. "I do not jest. That is my will." + +"Sooner would I die," said Tell. + +"If you do not shoot you die with the boy. Come, come, Tell, why so +cautious? They always told me that you loved perilous enterprises, and +yet when I give you one you complain. I could understand anybody else +shrinking from the feat. But you! Hitting apples at a hundred yards is +child's play to you. And what does it matter where the apple is--whether +it is on a tree or on a boy's head? It is an apple just the same. +Proceed, Tell." + +The crowd, seeing a discussion going on, had left the edge of the +meadow and clustered round to listen. A groan of dismay went up at the +Governor's words. + +"Down on your knees, boy," whispered Rudolph der Harras to Walter--"down +on your knees, and beg his Excellency for your life." + +"I won't!" said Walter stoutly. + +"Come," said Gessler, "clear a path there--clear a path! Hurry +yourselves. I won't have this loitering. Look you, Tell: attend to me +for a moment. I find you in the middle of this meadow deliberately +defying my authority and making sport of my orders. I find you in the +act of stirring up discontent among my people with speeches. I might +have you executed without ceremony. But do I? No. Nobody shall say that +Hermann Gessler the Governor is not kind-hearted. I say to myself, 'I +will give this man one chance.' I place your fate in your own skilful +hands. How can a man complain of harsh treatment when he is made master +of his own fate? Besides, I don't ask you to do anything difficult. I +merely bid you perform what must be to you a simple shot. You boast of +your unerring aim. Now is the time to prove it. Clear the way there!" + +Walter Fuerst flung himself on his knees before the Governor. + +"Your Highness," he cried, "none deny your power. Let it be mingled +with mercy. It is excellent, as an English poet will say in a few +hundred years, to have a giant's strength, but it is tyrannous to +use it like a giant. Take the half of my possessions, but spare my +son-in-law." + +But Walter Tell broke in impatiently, and bade his grandfather rise, +and not kneel to the tyrant. + +"Where must I stand?" asked he. "I'm not afraid. Father can hit a bird +upon the wing." + +"You see that lime-tree yonder," said Gessler to his soldiers; "take +the boy and bind him to it." + +"I will not be bound!" cried Walter. "I am not afraid. I'll stand +still. I won't breathe. If you bind me I'll kick!" + +"Let us bind your eyes, at least," said Rudolph der Harras. + +"Do you think I fear to see father shoot?" said Walter. "I won't stir +an eyelash. Father, show the tyrant how you can shoot. He thinks you're +going to miss. Isn't he an old donkey!" + +"Very well, young man," muttered Gessler, "we'll see who is laughing +five minutes from now." And once more he bade the crowd stand back and +leave a way clear for Tell to shoot. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +The crowd fell back, leaving a lane down which Walter walked, carrying +the apple. There was dead silence as he passed. Then the people began +to whisper excitedly to one another. + +"Shall this be done before our eyes?" said Arnold of Melchthal to +Werner Stauffacher. "Of what use was it that we swore an oath to rebel +if we permit this? Let us rise and slay the tyrant." + +Werner Stauffacher, prudent man, scratched his chin thoughtfully. + +"We-e-ll," he said, "you see, the difficulty is that we are not armed +and the soldiers _are_. There is nothing I should enjoy more than +slaying the tyrant, only I have an idea that the tyrant would slay us. +You see my point?" + +"Why were we so slow!" groaned Arnold. "We should have risen before, +and then this would never have happened. Who was it that advised us to +delay?" + +"We-e-ll," said Stauffacher (who had himself advised delay), "I can't +quite remember at the moment, but I dare say you could find out by +looking up the minutes of our last meeting. I know the motion was +carried by a majority of two votes. See! Gessler grows impatient." + +Gessler, who had been fidgeting on his horse for some time, now spoke +again, urging Tell to hurry. + +"Begin!" he cried--"begin!" + +"Immediately," replied Tell, fitting the arrow to the string. + +Gessler began to mock him once more. + +"You see now," he said, "the danger of carrying arms. I don't know if +you have ever noticed it, but arrows very often recoil on the man who +carries them. The only man who has any business to possess a weapon is +the ruler of a country--myself, for instance. A low, common fellow--if +you will excuse the description--like yourself only grows proud through +being armed, and so offends those above him. But, of course, it's no +business of mine. I am only telling you what I think about it. +Personally, I like to encourage my subjects to shoot; that is why I am +giving you such a splendid mark to shoot at. You see, Tell?" + +Tell did not reply. He raised his bow and pointed it. There was a stir +of excitement in the crowd, more particularly in that part of the crowd +which stood on his right, for, his hand trembling for the first time in +his life, Tell had pointed his arrow, not at his son, but straight into +the heart of the crowd. + +[Illustration: PLATE XI] + +"Here! Hi! That's the wrong way! More to the left!" shouted the people +in a panic, while Gessler roared with laughter, and bade Tell shoot and +chance it. + +"If you can't hit the apple or your son," he chuckled, "you can bring +down one of your dear fellow-countrymen." + +Tell lowered his bow, and a sigh of relief went through the crowd. + +"My eyes are swimming," he said; "I cannot see." + +Then he turned to the Governor. + +"I cannot shoot," he said; "bid your soldiers kill me." + +"No," said Gessler--"no, Tell. That is not at all what I want. If I had +wished my soldiers to kill you, I should not have waited for a formal +invitation from you. I have no desire to see you slain. Not at present. +I wish to see you shoot. Come, Tell, they say you can do everything, +and are afraid of nothing. Only the other day, I hear, you carried a +man, one Baumgartner--that was his name, I think--across a rough sea in +an open boat. You may remember it? I particularly wished to catch +Baumgartner, Tell. Now, this is a feat which calls for much less +courage. Simply to shoot an apple off a boy's head. A child could do +it." + +While he was speaking, Tell had been standing in silence, his hands +trembling and his eyes fixed, sometimes on the Governor, sometimes on +the sky. He now seized his quiver, and taking from it a second arrow, +placed it in his belt. Gessler watched him, but said nothing. + +"Shoot, father!" cried Walter from the other end of the lane; "I'm not +afraid." + +Tell, calm again now, raised his bow and took a steady aim. Everybody +craned forward, the front ranks in vain telling those behind that there +was nothing to be gained by pushing. Gessler bent over his horse's neck +and peered eagerly towards Walter. A great hush fell on all as Tell +released the string. + +"Phut!" went the string, and the arrow rushed through the air. + +A moment's suspense, and then a terrific cheer rose from the +spectators. + +[Illustration: PLATE XII] + +The apple had leaped from Walter's head, pierced through the centre. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Intense excitement instantly reigned. Their suspense over, the crowd +cheered again and again, shook hands with one another, and flung their +caps into the air. Everyone was delighted, for everyone was fond of +Tell and Walter. It also pleased them to see the Governor disappointed. +He had had things his own way for so long that it was a pleasant change +to see him baffled in this manner. Not since Switzerland became a +nation had the meadow outside the city gates been the scene of such +rejoicings. + +Walter had picked up the apple with the arrow piercing it, and was +showing it proudly to all his friends. + +"I told you so," he kept saying; "I knew father wouldn't hurt me. +Father's the best shot in all Switzerland." + +"That was indeed a shot!" exclaimed Ulric the smith; "it will ring +through the ages. While the mountains stand will the tale of Tell the +bowman be told." + +Rudolph der Harras took the apple from Walter and showed it to Gessler, +who had been sitting transfixed on his horse. + +"See," he said, "the arrow has passed through the very centre. It was a +master shot." + +"It was very nearly a 'Master Walter shot,'" said Roesselmann the priest +severely, fixing the Governor with a stern eye. + +Gessler made no answer. He sat looking moodily at Tell, who had dropped +his cross-bow and was standing motionless, still gazing in the +direction in which the arrow had sped. Nobody liked to be the first to +speak to him. + +"Well," said Rudolph der Harras, breaking an awkward silence, "I +suppose it's all over now? May as well be moving, eh?" + +He bit a large piece out of the apple, which he still held. Walter +uttered a piercing scream as he saw the mouthful disappear. Up till now +he had shown no signs of dismay, in spite of the peril which he had had +to face; but when he watched Rudolph eating the apple, which he +naturally looked upon as his own property, he could not keep quiet any +longer. Rudolph handed him the apple with an apology, and he began to +munch it contentedly. + +"Come with me to your mother, my boy," said Roesselmann. + +Walter took no notice, but went on eating the apple. + +Tell came to himself with a start, looked round for Walter, and began +to lead him away in the direction of his home, deaf to all the cheering +that was going on around him. + +Gessler leaned forward in his saddle. + +"Tell," he said, "a word with you." + +Tell came back. + +"Your Excellency?" + +"Before you go I wish you to explain one thing." + +"A thousand, your Excellency." + +"No, only one. When you were getting ready to shoot at the apple you +placed an arrow in the string and a second arrow in your belt." + +"A second arrow!" Tell pretended to be very much astonished, but the +pretence did not deceive the Governor. + +"Yes, a second arrow. Why was that? What did you intend to do with that +arrow, Tell?" + +Tell looked down uneasily, and twisted his bow about in his hands. + +"My lord," he said at last, "it is a bowman's custom. All archers place +a second arrow in their belt." + +"No, Tell," said Gessler, "I cannot take that answer as the truth. I +know there was some other meaning in what you did. Tell me the reason +without concealment. Why was it? Your life is safe, whatever it was, so +speak out. Why did you take out that second arrow?" + +Tell stopped fidgeting with his bow, and met the Governor's eye with a +steady gaze. + +"Since you promise me my life, your Excellency," he replied, drawing +himself up, "I will tell you." + +He drew the arrow from his belt and held it up. + +The crowd pressed forward, hanging on his words. + +"Had my first arrow," said Tell slowly, "pierced my child and not the +apple, this would have pierced you, my lord. Had I missed with my first +shot, be sure, my lord, that my second would have found its mark." + +A murmur of approval broke from the crowd as Tell thrust the arrow back +into the quiver and faced the Governor with folded arms and burning +eyes. Gessler turned white with fury. + +"Seize that man!" he shouted. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIII] + +"My lord, bethink you," whispered Rudolph der Harras; "you promised him +his life. Tell, fly!" he cried. + +Tell did not move. + +"Seize that man and bind him," roared Gessler once more. "If he +resists, cut him down." + +"I shall not resist," said Tell scornfully. "I should have known the +folly of trusting to a tyrant to keep his word. My death will at least +show my countrymen the worth of their Governor's promises." + +"Not so," replied Gessler; "no man shall say I ever broke my knightly +word. I promised you your life, and I will give you your life. But you +are a dangerous man, Tell, and against such must I guard myself. You +have told me your murderous purpose. I must look to it that that +purpose is not fulfilled. Life I promised you, and life I will give +you. But of freedom I said nothing. In my castle at Kuessnacht there are +dungeons where no ray of sun or moon ever falls. Chained hand and foot +in one of these, you will hardly aim your arrows at me. It is rash, +Tell, to threaten those who have power over you. Soldiers, bind him and +lead him to my ship. I will follow, and will myself conduct him to +Kuessnacht." + +The soldiers tied Tell's hands. He offered no resistance. And amidst +the groans of the people he was led away to the shore of the lake, +where Gessler's ship lay at anchor. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIV] + +"Our last chance is gone," said the people to one another. "Where shall +we look now for a leader?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The castle of Kuessnacht lay on the opposite side of the lake, a mighty +mass of stone reared on a mightier crag rising sheer out of the waves, +which boiled and foamed about its foot. Steep rocks of fantastic shape +hemmed it in, and many were the vessels which perished on these, driven +thither by the frequent storms that swept over the lake. + +Gessler and his men, Tell in their midst, bound and unarmed, embarked +early in the afternoon at Flueelen, which was the name of the harbour +where the Governor's ship had been moored. Flueelen was about two miles +from Kuessnacht. + +When they had arrived at the vessel they went on board, and Tell was +placed at the bottom of the hold. It was pitch dark, and rats scampered +over his body as he lay. The ropes were cast off, the sails filled, and +the ship made her way across the lake, aided by a favouring breeze. + +A large number of the Swiss people had followed Tell and his captors to +the harbour, and stood gazing sorrowfully after the ship as it +diminished in the distance. There had been whispers of an attempted +rescue, but nobody had dared to begin it, and the whispers had led to +nothing. Few of the people carried weapons, and the soldiers were clad +in armour, and each bore a long pike or a sharp sword. As Arnold of +Sewa would have said if he had been present, what the people wanted was +prudence. It was useless to attack men so thoroughly able to defend +themselves. + +Therefore the people looked on and groaned, but did nothing. + +For some time the ship sped easily on her way and through a calm sea. +Tell lay below, listening to the trampling of the sailors overhead, as +they ran about the deck, and gave up all hope of ever seeing his home +and his friends again. + +But soon he began to notice that the ship was rolling and pitching more +than it had been doing at first, and it was not long before he realized +that a very violent storm had begun. Storms sprung up very suddenly on +the lake, and made it unsafe for boats that attempted to cross it. +Often the sea was quite unruffled at the beginning of the crossing, and +was rough enough at the end to wreck the largest ship. + +Tell welcomed the storm. He had no wish to live if life meant years of +imprisonment in a dark dungeon of Castle Kuessnacht. Drowning would be a +pleasant fate compared with that. He lay at the bottom of the ship, +hoping that the next wave would dash them on to a rock and send them to +the bottom of the lake. The tossing became worse and worse. + +Upon the deck Gessler was standing beside the helmsman, and gazing +anxiously across the waters at the rocks that fringed the narrow +entrance to the bay a few hundred yards to the east of Castle +Kuessnacht. This bay was the only spot for miles along the shore at +which it was possible to land safely. For miles on either side the +coast was studded with great rocks, which would have dashed a ship to +pieces in a moment. It was to this bay that Gessler wished to direct +the ship. But the helmsman told him that he could not make sure of +finding the entrance, so great was the cloud of spray which covered it. +A mistake would mean shipwreck. + +"My lord," said the helmsman, "I have +neither strength nor skill to guide the helm. I do not know which way +to turn." + +"What are we to do?" asked Rudolph der Harras, who was standing near. + +The helmsman hesitated. Then he spoke, eyeing the Governor uneasily. + +"Tell could steer us through," he said, "if your lordship would but +give him the helm." + +Gessler started. + +"Tell!" he muttered. "Tell!" + +The ship drew nearer to the rocks. + +"Bring him here," said Gessler. + +Two soldiers went down to the hold and released Tell. They bade him get +up and come with them. Tell followed them on deck, and stood before the +Governor. + +"Tell," said Gessler. + +Tell looked at him without speaking. + +"Take the helm, Tell," said Gessler, "and steer the ship through those +rocks into the bay beyond, or instant death shall be your lot." + +Without a word Tell took the helmsman's place, peering keenly into the +cloud of foam before him. To right and to left he turned the vessel's +head, and to right again, into the very heart of the spray. They were +right among the rocks now, but the ship did not strike on them. +Quivering and pitching, she was hurried along, until of a sudden the +spray-cloud was behind her, and in front the calm waters of the bay. + +Gessler beckoned to the helmsman. + +"Take the helm again," he said. + +He pointed to Tell. + +"Bind him," he said to the soldiers. + +The soldiers advanced slowly, for they were loath to bind the man who +had just saved them from destruction. But the Governor's orders must he +obeyed, so they came towards Tell, carrying ropes with which to bind +him. + +Tell moved a step back. The ship was gliding past a lofty rock. It was +such a rock as Tell had often climbed when hunting the chamois. He +acted with the quickness of the hunter. Snatching up the bow and quiver +which lay on the deck, he sprang on to the bulwark of the vessel, and, +with a mighty leap, gained the rock. Another instant, and he was out of +reach. + +Gessler roared to his bowmen. + +"Shoot! shoot!" he cried. + +The bowmen hastily fitted arrow to string. They were too late. Tell was +ready before them. There was a hiss as the shaft rushed through the +air, and the next moment Gessler the Governor fell dead on the deck, +pierced through the heart. + +Tell's second arrow had found its mark, as his first had done. + +[Illustration: PLATE XV] + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +There is not much more of the story of William Tell. The death of +Gessler was a signal to the Swiss to rise in revolt, and soon the whole +country was up in arms against the Austrians. It had been chiefly the +fear of the Governor that had prevented a rising before. It had been +brewing for a long time. The people had been bound by a solemn oath to +drive the enemy out of the country. All through Switzerland +preparations for a revolution were going on, and nobles and peasants +had united. + +Directly the news arrived that the Governor was slain, meetings of the +people were held in every town in Switzerland, and it was resolved to +begin the revolution without delay. All the fortresses that Gessler had +built during his years of rule were carried by assault on the same +night. The last to fall was one which had only been begun a short time +back, and the people who had been forced to help to build it spent a +very pleasant hour pulling down the stones which had cost them such +labour to put in their place. Even the children helped. It was a great +treat to them to break what they pleased without being told not to. + +"See," said Tell, as he watched them, "in years to come, when these +same children are gray-haired, they will remember this night as freshly +as they will remember it to-morrow." + +A number of people rushed up, bearing the pole which Gessler's soldiers +had set up in the meadow. The hat was still on top of it, nailed to the +wood by Tell's arrow. + +"Here's the hat!" shouted Ruodi--"the hat to which we were to bow!" + +"What shall we do with it?" cried several voices. + +"Destroy it! Burn it!" said others. "To the flames with this emblem of +tyranny!" + +But Tell stopped them. + +"Let us preserve it," he said. "Gessler set it up to be a means +of enslaving the country; we will set it up as a memorial of our +newly-gained liberty. Nobly is fulfilled the oath we swore to drive +the tyrants from our land. Let the pole mark the spot where the +revolution finished." + +"But _is_ it finished?" said Arnold of Melchthal. "It is a nice +point. When the Emperor of Austria hears that we have killed his friend +Gessler, and burnt down all his fine new fortresses, will he not come +here to seek revenge?" + +"He will," said Tell. "And let him come. And let him bring all his +mighty armies. We have driven out the enemy that was in our land. We +will meet and drive away the enemy that comes from another country. +Switzerland is not easy to attack. There are but a few mountain passes +by which the foe can approach. We will stop these with our bodies. And +one great strength we have: we are united. And united we need fear no +foe." + +"Hurrah!" shouted everybody. + +"But who is this that approaches?" said Tell. "He seems excited. +Perhaps he brings news." + +It was Roesselmann the pastor, and he brought stirring news. + +"These are strange times in which we live," said Roesselmann, coming up. + +"Why, what has happened?" cried everybody. + +"Listen, and be amazed." + +"Why, what's the matter?" + +"The Emperor----" + +"Yes?" + +"The Emperor is dead." + +"What! dead?" + +"Dead!" + +"Impossible! How came you by the news?" + +"John Mueller of Schaffhausen brought it. And he is a truthful man." + +"But how did it happen?" + +"As the Emperor rode from Stein to Baden the lords of Eschenbach and +Tegerfelden, jealous, it is said, of his power, fell upon him with +their spears. His bodyguard were on the other side of a stream--the +Emperor had just crossed it--and could not come to his assistance. He +died instantly." + +By the death of the Emperor the revolution in Switzerland was enabled +to proceed without check. The successor of the Emperor had too much to +do in defending himself against the slayers of his father to think of +attacking the Swiss, and by the time he was at leisure they were too +strong to be attacked. So the Swiss became free. + +As for William Tell, he retired to his home, and lived there very +happily ever afterwards with his wife and his two sons, who in a few +years became very nearly as skilful in the use of the cross-bow as +their father. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + + Some say the tale related here + Is amplified and twisted; + Some say it isn't very clear + That William Tell existed; + Some say he freed his country _so_, + The Governor demolished. + Perhaps he did. I only know + That taxes aren't abolished! + + + + + + * * * * * + + +[The Illustrations and accompanying descriptive verses] + + + + +[PROLOGUE.] + + The Swiss, against their Austrian foes, + Had ne'er a soul to lead 'em, + Till Tell, as you've heard tell, arose + And guided them to freedom. + Tell's tale we tell again--an act + For which pray no one scold us-- + This tale of Tell we tell, in fact, + As this Tell tale was told us. + + + + +PLATE I. + + + Beneath a tyrant foreign yoke, + How love of freedom waxes! + (Especially when foreign folk + Come round collecting taxes.) + The Swiss, held down by Gessler's fist, + Would fain have used evasion; + Yet none there seemed who could resist + His methods of persuasion. + +[Illustration: GESSLER'S METHODS OF PERSUASION] + + + + +PLATE II. + + + And pride so filled this Gessler's soul + (A monarch's pride outclassing), + He stuck his hat up on a pole, + That all might bow in passing. + Then rose the patriot, William Tell-- + "We've groaned 'neath Austria's sway first; + Must we be ruled by poles as well? + I've just a word to say first!" + +[Illustration: THEY WOULD MARCH ABOUT, BEATING TIN CANS AND SHOUTING] + + + + +PLATE III. + + + The crowd about the pole at morn + Used various "persuaders"-- + They flung old cans (to prove their scorn + Of all tin-pot invaders); + And cabbage-stumps were freely dealt, + And apples (inexpensive), + And rotten eggs (to show they felt + A foreign yoke offensive). + +[Illustration: AN EGG FLEW ACROSS THE MEADOW, AND BURST OVER LEUTHOLD'S +SHOULDER] + + + + +PLATE IV. + + + Said William Tell, "And has this cuss + For conquest such a passion + He needs must set his cap at us + In this exalted fashion?" + And then the people gave a cry, + 'Twixt joy and apprehension, + To see him pass the symbol by + With studied inattention! + +[Illustration: "HERE! HI!" SHOUTED THE SOLDIERS, "STOP!"] + + + + +PLATE V. + + + At first the sentinel, aghast, + Glared like an angry dumb thing; + Then "Hi!" he shouted, "not so fast, + You're overlooking something!" + The sturdy Tell made no response; + Then through the hills resounded + A mighty thwack upon his sconce-- + The people were astounded. + +[Illustration: THEY SAW FRIESSHARDT RAISE HIS PIKE, AND BRING IT DOWN +WITH ALL HIS FORCE ON TELL'S HEAD] + + + + +PLATE VI. + + + Could Tell an insult such as this + Ignore or pass? I doubt it! + No, no; that patriotic Swiss + Was very cross about it. + The people, interested now, + Exclaimed, "Here! Stop a minute + If there's to be a jolly row, + By Jingo! we'll be in it!" + +[Illustration: "LOOK HERE!" HE BEGAN. "LOOK THERE!" SAID FRIESSHARDT] + + + + +PLATE VII. + + + Said Tell, "This satrap of the Duke + Is sore in need of gumption; + With my good bow I will rebuke + Such arrow-gant presumption." + "Stand back!" the soldier says, says he; + "This roughness is unseemly!" + The people cried, "We _will_ be FREE!" + And so they were--extremely! + +[Illustration: FRIESSHARDT RUSHED TO STOP HIM] + + + + +PLATE VIII. + + + They dealt that soldier thump on thump + (He hadn't any notion, + When on Tell's head he raised that bump, + Of raising this commotion); + Tell's arrow sped, the people crowed, + And loudly cheered his action; + While Tell's expressive features showed + A certain satisfaction. + +[Illustration: THE CROWD DANCED AND SHOUTED] + + + + +PLATE IX. + + + Now, when the cat's away, the mice + Are very enterprising, + But cats return, and, in a trice-- + Well, Gessler nipped that rising. + And when those soldiers lodged complaint + (Which truly didn't lack ground), + The people practised self-restraint + And fell into the background. + +[Illustration: "COME, COME, COME!" SAID GESSLER, "TELL ME ALL ABOUT +IT"] + + + + +PLATE X. + + + And Tell, before the tyrant hailed, + No patriot you'd have guessed him, + For even his stout bosom quailed + When Gessler thus addressed him:-- + "As you're the crack shot of these Swiss + (I've often heard it said so), + Suppose you take a shot at this, + Placed on your youngster's head--so!" + +[Illustration: "I HAVE HERE AN APPLE"] + + + + +PLATE XI. + + + "The bearing," as they say, "of that + Lay in the apple-cation," + And nobody will wonder at + A parent's agitation; + That anguish filled Tell's bosom proud + Needs scarcely to be stated, + And, it will be observed, the crowd + Was also agitated. + +[Illustration: THERE WAS A STIR OF EXCITEMENT IN THE CROWD] + + + + +PLATE XII. + + + Said Gessler, "This is all my eye! + Come, hurry up and _buck_ up! + Remember, if you miss, you die-- + That ought to keep your pluck up. + The flying arrow may, no doubt, + Your offspring's bosom enter--" + But here there rose a mighty shout: + "By George! He's scored a centre!" + +[Illustration: A MOMENT'S SUSPENSE, AND THEN A TERRIFIC CHEER AROSE +FROM THE SPECTATORS] + + + + +PLATE XIII. + + + But, as the arrow cleft the core, + Cried G. with indignation, + "What was the second arrow for? + Come, no e-quiver-cation! + You had a second in your fist." + Said Tell, the missile grippin', + "This shaft (had I that apple missed) + Was meant for you, my pippin!" + +[Illustration: "SEIZE THAT MAN!" HE SHOUTED] + + + + +PLATE XIV. + + + With rage the tyrant said, said he, + "It's time to stop this prating; + I find your style of repartee + Extremely irritating. + You'll hang for this, be pleased to note." + On this they bound and gagged him + (For Gessler's castle booked by boat), + And through the village dragged him. + +[Illustration: HE WAS LED AWAY TO THE SHORE OF THE LAKE] + + + + +PLATE XV. + + + But slips between the cup and lip, + When least expected, peer through-- + A storm arose upon the trip + Which Tell alone could steer through. + Thus, of all hands he quickly got + (As you may see) the upper, + At Gessler took a parting shot, + And hurried home to supper. + +[Illustration: TELL'S SECOND ARROW HAD FOUND ITS MARK] + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + + Some say the tale related here + Is amplified and twisted; + Some say it isn't very clear + That William Tell existed; + Some say he freed his country <i>so</i>, + The Governor demolished. + Perhaps he did. I only know + That taxes aren't abolished! + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of William Tell Told Again, by +P. G. Wodehouse and John W. Houghton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN *** + +***** This file should be named 7298.txt or 7298.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/2/9/7298/ + +Produced by Branko Collin, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, and the +Oxford College Library of Emory University + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: William Tell Told Again + +Author: P. G. Wodehouse + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7298] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on April 9, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN *** + + + + +Produced by Branko Collin, Suzanne L. Shell, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team, +and the Oxford College Library of Emory University. + + + + +[Transcriber's note: _William Tell Told Again_ is two children's books +in one. One is a picture book--16 full-color illustrations by Philip +Dadd described in verse by John W. Houghton. The other is a humorous +novel by P. G. Wodehouse, based on the picture book. The novel has a +lengthier storyline, a more intricate plot, and more characterization. +The bound volume intermingled the picture book with the novel, +illustrations and poems appearing at regular intervals. Most pictures +and verses were distant from the page of the novel that they reflected. + +For this text version, placeholders for the illustrations (with plate +numbers) have been inserted following the paragraph in the novel that +describes the events being illustrated. The verse descriptions of the +illustrations, labelled with plate numbers, have been moved to the end +of the novel, so as not to disrupt the story. Each verse also has an +illustration placeholder that includes the phrase from the novel shown +as a description on the List of Illustrations.] + + +[Illustration: Frontispiece] + + + + + + +WILLIAM TELL TOLD AGAIN + + + + +BY P. G. WODEHOUSE + +1904 + + +WITH +ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR BY PHILIP DADD +DESCRIBED IN VERSE BY JOHN W. HOUGHTON + + + + +[Dedication] +TO BIDDY O'SULLIVAN +FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +SOMETIMES IT WAS ONLY A BIRD [Frontispiece] + +GESSLER'S METHODS OF PERSUASION [Plate I] + +THEY WOULD MARCH ABOUT, BEATING TIN CANS AND SHOUTING [Plate II] + +AN EGG FLEW ACROSS THE MEADOW, AND BURST OVER LEUTHOLD'S SHOULDER +[Plate III] + +"HERE! HI!" SHOUTED THE SOLDIERS, "STOP!" [Plate IV] + +THEY SAW FRIESSHARDT RAISE HIS PIKE, AND BRING IT DOWN WITH ALL HIS +FORCE ON TELL'S HEAD [Plate V] + +"LOOK HERE!" HE BEGAN. "LOOK THERE!" SAID FRIESSHARDT [Plate VI] + +FRIESSHARDT RUSHED TO STOP HIM [Plate VII] + +THE CROWD DANCED AND SHOUTED [Plate VIII] + +"COME, COME, COME!" SAID GESSLER, "TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT" [Plate IX] + +"I HAVE HERE AN APPLE" [Plate X] + +THERE WAS A STIR OF EXCITEMENT IN THE CROWD [Plate XI] + +A MOMENT'S SUSPENSE, AND THEN A TERRIFIC CHEER AROSE FROM THE +SPECTATORS [Plate XII] + +"SEIZE THAT MAN!" HE SHOUTED [Plate XIII] + +HE WAS LED AWAY TO THE SHORE OF THE LAKE [Plate XIV] + +TELL'S SECOND ARROW HAD FOUND ITS MARK [Plate XV] + + + + + + The Swiss, against their Austrian foes, + Had ne'er a soul to lead 'em, + Till Tell, as you've heard tell, arose + And guided them to freedom. + Tell's tale we tell again--an act + For which pray no one scold us-- + This tale of Tell we tell, in fact, + As this Tell tale was told us. + + + + + +WILLIAM TELL + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Once upon a time, more years ago than anybody can remember, before the +first hotel had been built or the first Englishman had taken a +photograph of Mont Blanc and brought it home to be pasted in an album +and shown after tea to his envious friends, Switzerland belonged to the +Emperor of Austria, to do what he liked with. + +One of the first things the Emperor did was to send his friend Hermann +Gessler to govern the country. Gessler was not a nice man, and it soon +became plain that he would never make himself really popular with the +Swiss. The point on which they disagreed in particular was the question +of taxes. The Swiss, who were a simple and thrifty people, objected to +paying taxes of any sort. They said they wanted to spend their money on +all kinds of other things. Gessler, on the other hand, wished to put a +tax on everything, and, being Governor, he did it. He made everyone who +owned a flock of sheep pay a certain sum of money to him; and if the +farmer sold his sheep and bought cows, he had to pay rather more money +to Gessler for the cows than he had paid for the sheep. Gessler also +taxed bread, and biscuits, and jam, and buns, and lemonade, and, in +fact, everything he could think of, till the people of Switzerland +determined to complain. They appointed Walter Fürst, who had red hair +and looked fierce; Werner Stauffacher, who had gray hair and was always +wondering how he ought to pronounce his name; and Arnold of Melchthal, +who had light-yellow hair and was supposed to know a great deal about +the law, to make the complaint. They called on the Governor one lovely +morning in April, and were shown into the Hall of Audience. + +"Well," said Gessler, "and what's the matter now?" + +The other two pushed Walter Fürst forward because he looked fierce, and +they thought he might frighten the Governor. + +Walter Fürst coughed. + +"Well?" asked Gessler. + +"Er--ahem!" said Walter Fürst. + +"That's the way," whispered Werner; "_give_ it him!" + +"Er--ahem!" +said Walter Fürst again; "the fact is, your Governorship--" + +"It's a small point," interrupted Gessler, "but I'm generally called +'your Excellency.' Yes?" + +"The fact is, your Excellency, it seems to the people of Switzerland--" + +"--Whom I represent," whispered Arnold of Melchthal. + +"--Whom I represent, that things want changing." + +"What things?" inquired Gessler. + +"The taxes, your excellent Governorship." + +"Change the taxes? Why, don't the people of Switzerland think there are +enough taxes?" + +Arnold of Melchthal broke in hastily. + +"They think there are many too many," he said. "What with the tax on +sheep, and the tax on cows, and the tax on bread, and the tax on tea, +and the tax--" + +"I know, _I_ know," Gessler interrupted; "I know all the taxes. +Come to the point. What about 'em?" + +"Well, your Excellency, there are too many of them." + +"Too many!" + +"Yes. And we are not going to put up with it any longer!" shouted +Arnold of Melchthal. + +Gessler leaned forward in his throne. + +"Might I ask you to repeat that remark?" he said. + +"We are not going to put up with it any longer!" + +Gessler sat back again with an ugly smile. + +"Oh," he said--"oh, indeed! You aren't, aren't you! Desire the Lord +High Executioner to step this way," he added to a soldier who stood +beside him. + +The Lord High Executioner entered the presence. He was a kind-looking +old gentleman with white hair, and he wore a beautiful black robe, +tastefully decorated with death's-heads. + +"Your Excellency sent for me?" he said. + +"Just so," replied Gessler. "This gentleman here"--he pointed to Arnold +of Melchthal--"says he does not like taxes, and that he isn't going to +put up with them any longer." + +"Tut-tut!" murmured the executioner. + +"See what you can do for him." + +"Certainly, your Excellency. Robert," he cried, "is the oil on the +boil?" + +"Just this minute boiled over," replied a voice from the other side of +the door. + +"Then bring it in, and mind you don't spill any." + +Enter Robert, in a suit of armour and a black mask, carrying a large +caldron, from which the steam rose in great clouds. + +"Now, sir, if you please," said the executioner politely to Arnold of +Melchthal. + +Arnold looked at the caldron. + +"Why, it's hot," he said. + +"Warmish," admitted the executioner. + +"It's against the law to threaten a man with hot oil." + +[Illustration: PLATE I] + +"You may bring an action against me," said the executioner. "Now, sir, +if _you_ please. We are wasting time. The forefinger of your left +hand, if I may trouble you. Thank you. I am obliged." + +He took Arnold's left hand, and dipped the tip of the first finger into +the oil. + +"Ow!" cried Arnold, jumping. + +"Don't let him see he's hurting you," whispered Werner Stauffacher. +"Pretend you don't notice it." + +Gessler leaned forward again. + +"Have your views on taxes changed at all?" he asked. "Do you see my +point of view more clearly now?" + +Arnold admitted that he thought that, after all, there might be +something to be said for it. + +"That's right," said the Governor. "And the tax on sheep? You don't +object to that?" + +"No." + +"And the tax on cows?" + +"I like it." + +"And those on bread, and buns, and lemonade?" + +"I enjoy them." + +"Excellent. In fact, you're quite contented?" + +"Quite." + +"And you think the rest of the people are?" + +"Oh, quite, quite!" + +"And do you think the same?" he asked of Walter and Werner. + +"Oh _yes_, your Excellency!" they cried. + +"Then _that's_ all right," said Gessler. "I was sure you would be +sensible about it. Now, if you will kindly place in the tambourine +which the gentleman on my left is presenting to you a mere trifle to +compensate us for our trouble in giving you an audience, and if you" +(to Arnold of Melchthal) "will contribute an additional trifle for use +of the Imperial boiling oil, I think we shall all be satisfied. You've +done it? _That's_ right. Good-bye, and mind the step as you go +out." + +And, as he finished this speech, the three spokesmen of the people of +Switzerland were shown out of the Hall of Audience. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +They were met in the street outside by a large body of their +fellow-citizens, who had accompanied them to the Palace, and who had +been spending the time since their departure in listening by turns at +the keyhole of the front-door. But as the Hall of Audience was at the +other side of the Palace, and cut off from the front-door by two other +doors, a flight of stairs, and a long passage, they had not heard very +much of what had gone on inside, and they surrounded the three spokesmen +as they came out, and questioned them eagerly. + +"Has he taken off the tax on jam?" asked Ulric the smith. + +"What is he going to do about the tax on mixed biscuits?" shouted Klaus +von der Flue, who was a chimney-sweep of the town and loved mixed +biscuits. + +"Never mind about tea and mixed biscuits!" cried his neighbour, Meier +of Sarnen. "What I want to know is whether we shall have to pay for +keeping sheep any more." + +"What _did_ the Governor say?" asked Jost Weiler, a practical man, +who liked to go straight to the point. + +The three spokesmen looked at one another a little doubtfully. + +"We-e-ll," said Werner Stauffacher at last, "as a matter of fact, he +didn't actually _say_ very much. It was more what he _did_, +if you understand me, than what he said." + +"I should describe His Excellency the Governor," said Walter Fürst, "as +a man who has got a way with him--a man who has got all sorts of +arguments at his finger-tips." + +At the mention of finger-tips, Arnold of Melchthal uttered a sharp +howl. + +"In short," continued Walter, "after a few minutes' very interesting +conversation he made us see that it really wouldn't do, and that we +must go on paying the taxes as before." + +There was a dead silence for several minutes, while everybody looked at +everybody else in dismay. + +The silence was broken by Arnold of Sewa. Arnold of Sewa had been +disappointed at not being chosen as one of the three spokesmen, and he +thought that if he had been so chosen all this trouble would not have +occurred. + +"The fact is," he said bitterly, "that you three have failed to do what +you were sent to do. I mention no names--far from it--but I don't mind +saying that there are some people in this town who would have given a +better account of themselves. What you want in little matters of this +sort is, if I may say so, tact. Tact; that's what you want. Of course, +if you _will_ go rushing into the Governor's presence--" + +"But we didn't rush," said Walter Fürst. + +"--Shouting out that you want the taxes abolished--" + +"But we didn't shout," said Walter Fürst. + +"I really cannot speak if I am to be constantly interrupted," said +Arnold of Sewa severely. "What I say is, that you ought to employ tact. +Tact; that's what you want. If I had been chosen to represent the Swiss +people in this affair--I am not saying I ought to have been, mind you; +I merely say _if_ I had been--I should have acted rather after the +following fashion: Walking firmly, but not defiantly, into the tyrant's +presence, I should have broken the ice with some pleasant remark about +the weather. The conversation once started, the rest would have been +easy. I should have said that I hoped His Excellency had enjoyed a good +dinner. Once on the subject of food, and it would have been the +simplest of tasks to show him how unnecessary taxes on food were, and +the whole affair would have been pleasantly settled while you waited. I +do not imply that the Swiss people would have done better to have +chosen me as their representative. I merely say that that is how I +should have acted had they done so." + +And Arnold of Sewa twirled his moustache and looked offended. His +friends instantly suggested that he should be allowed to try where the +other three had failed, and the rest of the crowd, beginning to hope +once more, took up the cry. The result was that the visitors' bell of +the Palace was rung for the second time. Arnold of Sewa went in, and +the door was banged behind him. + +Five minutes later he came out, sucking the first finger of his left +hand. + +"No," he said; "it can't be done. The tyrant has convinced me." + +"I knew he would," said Arnold of Melchthal. + +"Then I think you might have warned me," snapped Arnold of Sewa, +dancing with the pain of his burnt finger. + +"Was it hot?" + +"Boiling." + +"Ah!" + +"Then he really won't let us off the taxes?" asked the crowd in +disappointed voices. + +"No." + +"Then the long and short of it is," said Walter Fürst, drawing a deep +breath, "that we must rebel!" + +"Rebel?" cried everybody. + +"Rebel!" repeated Walter firmly. + +"We will!" cried everybody. + +"Down with the tyrant!" shouted Walter Fürst. + +"Down with the taxes!" shrieked the crowd. + +A scene of great enthusiasm followed. The last words were spoken by +Werner Stauffacher. + +"We want a leader," he said. + +"I don't wish to thrust myself forward," began Arnold of Sewa, "but I +must say, if it comes to leading--" + +"And I know the very man for the job," said Werner Stauffacher. +"William Tell!" + +"Hurrah for William Tell!" roared the crowd, and, taking the time from +Werner Stauffacher, they burst into the grand old Swiss chant which +runs as follows: + + "For he's a jolly good fellow! + For he's a jolly good fellow!! + For he's a jolly good fe-e-ll-ow!!!! + And so say all of us!" + +And having sung this till they were all quite hoarse, they went off to +their beds to get a few hours' sleep before beginning the labours of +the day. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +In a picturesque little châlet high up in the mountains, covered with +snow and edelweiss (which is a flower that grows in the Alps, and you +are not allowed to pick it), dwelt William Tell, his wife Hedwig, and +his two sons, Walter and William. Such a remarkable man was Tell that I +think I must devote a whole chapter to him and his exploits. There was +really nothing he could not do. He was the best shot with the cross-bow +in the whole of Switzerland. He had the courage of a lion, the +sure-footedness of a wild goat, the agility of a squirrel, and a +beautiful beard. If you wanted someone to hurry across desolate +ice-fields, and leap from crag to crag after a chamois, Tell was the +man for your money. If you wanted a man to say rude things to the +Governor, it was to Tell that you applied first. Once when he was +hunting in the wild ravine of Schächenthal, where men were hardly +ever to be seen, he met the Governor face to face. There was no way +of getting past. On one side the rocky wall rose sheer up, while below +the river roared. Directly Gessler caught sight of Tell striding along +with his cross-bow, his cheeks grew pale and his knees tottered, and he +sat down on a rock feeling very unwell indeed. + +"Aha!" said Tell. "Oho! so it's you, is it? _I_ know you. And a +nice sort of person you are, with your taxes on bread and sheep, aren't +you! You'll come to a bad end one of these days, that's what will +happen to you. Oh, you old reprobate! Pooh!" And he had passed on with +a look of scorn, leaving Gessler to think over what he had said. And +Gessler ever since had had a grudge against him, and was only waiting +for a chance of paying him out. + +"Mark my words," said Tell's wife, Hedwig, when her husband told her +about it after supper that night--"mark my words, he will never +forgive you." + +"I will avoid him," said Tell. "He will not seek me." + +"Well, mind you do," was Hedwig's reply. + +On another occasion, when the Governor's soldiers were chasing a friend +of his, called Baumgarten, and when Baumgarten's only chance of escape +was to cross the lake during a fierce storm, and when the ferryman, +sensibly remarking, "What! must I rush into the jaws of death? No man +that hath his senses would do that!" refused to take out his boat even +for twice his proper fare, and when the soldiers rode down to seize +their prey with dreadful shouts, Tell jumped into the boat, and, rowing +with all his might, brought his friend safe across after a choppy +passage. Which made Gessler the Governor still more angry with him. + +But it was as a marksman that Tell was so extraordinary. There was +nobody in the whole of the land who was half so skilful. He attended +every meeting for miles around where there was a shooting competition, +and every time he won first prize. Even his rivals could not help +praising his skill. "Behold!" they would say, "Tell is quite the +pot-hunter," meaning by the last word a man who always went in for +every prize, and always won it. And Tell would say, "Yes, truly am I +a pot-hunter, for I hunt to fill the family pot." And so he did. He never +came home empty-handed from the chase. Sometimes it was a chamois that +he brought back, and then the family had it roasted on the first day, +cold on the next four, and minced on the sixth, with sippets of toast +round the edge of the dish. Sometimes it was only a bird (as on the +cover of this book), and then Hedwig would say, "Mark my words, this +fowl will not go round." But it always did, and it never happened that +there was not even a fowl to eat. + +[Illustration: Frontispiece] + +In fact, Tell and his family lived a very happy, contented life, in +spite of the Governor Gessler and his taxes. + +Tell was very patriotic. He always believed that some day the Swiss +would rise and rebel against the tyranny of the Governor, and he used +to drill his two children so as to keep them always in a state of +preparation. They would march about, beating tin cans and shouting, and +altogether enjoying themselves immensely, though Hedwig, who did not +like noise, and wanted Walter and William to help her with the +housework, made frequent complaints. "Mark my words," she would say, +"this growing spirit of militarism in the young and foolish will lead +to no good," meaning that boys who played at soldiers instead of +helping their mother to dust the chairs and scrub the kitchen floor +would in all probability come to a bad end. But Tell would say, "Who +hopes to fight his way through life must be prepared to wield arms. +Carry on, my boys!" And they carried on. It was to this man that the +Swiss people had determined to come for help. + +[Illustration: PLATE II] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Talking matters over in the inn of the town, the Glass and Glacier, the +citizens came to the conclusion that they ought to appoint three +spokesmen to go and explain to Tell just what they wanted him to do. + +"I don't wish to seem to boast at all," said Arnold of Sewa, "but I +think I had better be one of the three." + +"I was thinking," said Werner Stauffacher, "that it would be a pity +always to be chopping and changing. Why not choose the same three as +were sent to Gessler?" + +"I don't desire to be unpleasant at all," replied Arnold of Sewa, "but +I must be forgiven for reminding the honourable gentleman who has just +spoken that he and his equally honourable friends did not meet with the +best of success when they called upon the Governor." + +"Well, and you didn't either!" snapped Arnold of Melchthal, whose +finger still hurt him, and made him a little bad-tempered. + +"That," said Arnold of Sewa, "I put down entirely to the fact that you +and your friends, by not exercising tact, irritated the Governor, and +made him unwilling to listen to anybody else. Nothing is more important +in these affairs than tact. That's what you want--tact. But have it +your own way. Don't mind _me!_" + +And the citizens did not. They chose Werner Stauffacher, Arnold of +Melchthal, and Walter Fürst, and, having drained their glasses, the +three trudged up the steep hill which led to Tell's house. + +It had been agreed that everyone should wait at the Glass and Glacier +until the three spokesmen returned, in order that they might hear the +result of their mission. Everybody was very anxious. A revolution +without Tell would be quite impossible, and it was not unlikely that +Tell might refuse to be their leader. The worst of a revolution is +that, if it fails, the leader is always executed as an example to the +rest. And many people object to being executed, however much it may set +a good example to their friends. On the other hand, Tell was a brave +man and a patriot, and might be only too eager to try to throw off the +tyrant's yoke, whatever the risk. They had waited about an hour, when +they saw the three spokesmen coming down the hill. Tell was not with +them, a fact which made the citizens suspect that he had refused their +offer. The first thing a man does when he has accepted the leadership +of a revolution is to come and plot with his companions. + +"Well?" said everybody eagerly, as the three arrived. + +Werner Stauffacher shook his head. + +"Ah," said Arnold of Sewa, "I see what it is. He has refused. You +didn't exercise tact, and he refused." + +"We _did_ exercise tact," said Stauffacher indignantly; "but he +would not be persuaded. It was like this: We went to the house and +knocked at the door. Tell opened it. 'Good-morning,' I said. + +"'Good-morning,' said he. 'Take a seat.' + +"I took a seat. + +"'My heart is full,' I said, 'and longs to speak with you.' I thought +that a neat way of putting it." + +The company murmured approval. + +"'A heavy heart,' said Tell, 'will not +grow light with words.'" + +"Not bad that!" murmured Jost Weiler. "Clever way of putting things, +Tell has got." + +"'Yet words,' I said, 'might lead us on to deeds.'" + +"Neat," said Jost Weiler--"very neat. Yes?" + +"To which Tell's extraordinary reply was: 'The only thing to do is to +sit still.' + +"'What!' I said; 'bear in silence things unbearable?' + +"'Yes,' said Tell; 'to peaceable men peace is gladly granted. When the +Governor finds that his oppression does not make us revolt, he will +grow tired of oppressing.'" + +"And what did you say to that?" asked Ulric the smith. + +"I said he did not know the Governor if he thought he could ever grow +tired of oppressing. 'We might do much,' I said, 'if we held fast +together. Union is strength,' I said. + +"'The strong,' said Tell, 'is strongest when he stands alone.' + +"'Then our country must not count on thee,' I said, 'when in despair +she stands on self-defence?' + +"'Oh, well,' he said, 'hardly that, perhaps. I don't want to desert +you. What I mean to say is, I'm no use as a plotter or a counsellor and +that sort of thing. Where I come out strong is in deeds. So don't +invite me to your meetings and make me speak, and that sort of thing; +but if you want a man to _do_ anything--why, that's where I shall +come in, you see. Just write if you want me--a postcard will do--and +you will not find William Tell hanging back. No, sir.' And with those +words he showed us out." + +"Well," said Jost Weiler, "I call that encouraging. All we have to do +now is to plot. Let us plot." + +"Yes, let's!" shouted everybody. + +Ulric the smith rapped for silence on the table. + +"Gentlemen," he said, "our friend Mr. Klaus von der Flue will now read +a paper on 'Governors--their drawbacks, and how to get rid of them.' +Silence, gentlemen, please. Now, then, Klaus, old fellow, speak up and +get it over." + +And the citizens settled down without further delay to a little serious +plotting. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +A few days after this, Hedwig gave Tell a good talking to on the +subject of his love for adventure. He was sitting at the door of his +house mending an axe. Hedwig, as usual, was washing up. Walter and +William were playing with a little cross-bow not far off. + +"Father," said Walter. + +"Yes, my boy?" + +"My bow-string has bust." ("Bust" was what all Swiss boys said when +they meant "broken.") + +"You must mend it yourself, my boy," said Tell. "A sportsman always +helps himself." + +"What _I_ say," said Hedwig, bustling out of the house, "is that a +boy of his age has no business to be shooting. I don't like it." + +"Nobody can shoot well if he does not begin to practise early. Why, +when I was a boy--I remember on one occasion, when--" + +"What _I_ say," interrupted Hedwig, "is that a boy ought not to +want always to be shooting, and what not. He ought to stay at home and +help his mother. And I wish you would set them a better example." + +"Well, the fact is, you know," said Tell, "I don't think Nature meant +me to be a stay-at-home and that sort of thing. I couldn't be a +herdsman if you paid me. I shouldn't know what to do. No; everyone has +his special line, and mine is hunting. Now, I _can_ hunt." + +"A nasty, dangerous occupation," said Hedwig. "I don't like to hear of +your being lost on desolate ice-fields, and leaping from crag to crag, +and what not. Some day, mark my words, if you are not careful, you will +fall down a precipice, or be overtaken by an avalanche, or the ice will +break while you are crossing it. There are a thousand ways in which you +might get hurt." + +"A man of ready wit with a quick eye," replied Tell complacently, +"never gets hurt. The mountain has no terror for her children. I am a +child of the mountain." + +"You are certainly a child!" snapped Hedwig. "It is no use my arguing +with you." + +"Not very much," agreed Tell, "for I am just off to the town. I have an +appointment with your papa and some other gentlemen." + +(I forgot to say so before, but Hedwig was the daughter of Walter +Fürst.) + +"Now, _what_ are you and papa plotting?" asked Hedwig. "I know +there is something going on. I suspected it when papa brought Werner +Stauffacher and the other man here, and you wouldn't let me listen. +What is it? Some dangerous scheme, I suppose?" + +"Now, how in the world do you get those sort of ideas into your head?" +Tell laughed. "Dangerous scheme! As if I should plot dangerous schemes +with your papa!" + +"I know," said Hedwig. "You can't deceive _me!_ There is a plot +afoot against the Governor, and you are in it." + +"A man must help his country." + +"They're sure to place you where there is most danger. I know them. +Don't go. Send Walter down with a note to say that you regret that an +unfortunate previous engagement, which you have just recollected, will +make it impossible for you to accept their kind invitation to plot." + +"No; I must go." + +"And there is another thing," continued Hedwig: "Gessler the Governor +is in the town now." + +"He goes away to-day." + +"Well, wait till he has gone. You must not meet him. He bears you +malice." + +"To me his malice cannot do much harm. I do what's right, and fear no +enemy." + +"Those who do right," said Hedwig, "are those he hates the most. And +you know he has never forgiven you for speaking like that when you met +him in the ravine. Keep away from the town for to-day. Do anything +else. Go hunting, if you will." + +"No," said Tell; "I promised. I must go. Come along, Walter." + +"You _aren't_ going to take that poor _dear_ child? Come +here, Walter, directly minute!' + +"Want to go with father," said Walter, beginning to cry, for his father +had promised to take him with him the next time he went to the town, +and he had saved his pocket-money for the occasion. + +"Oh, let the boy come," said Tell. "William will stay with you, won't +you, William?" + +"All right, father," said William. + +"Well, mark my words," said Hedwig, "if something bad does not happen I +shall be surprised." + +"Oh no," said Tell. "What can happen?" + +And without further delay he set off with Walter for the town. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +In the meantime all kinds of things of which Tell had no suspicion had +been happening in the town. The fact that there were no newspapers in +Switzerland at that time often made him a little behindhand as regarded +the latest events. He had to depend, as a rule, on visits from his +friends, who would sit in his kitchen and tell him all about everything +that had been going on for the last few days. And, of course, when +there was anything very exciting happening in the town, nobody had time +to trudge up the hill to Tell's châlet. They all wanted to be in the +town enjoying the fun. + +What had happened now was this. It was the chief amusement of the +Governor, Gessler (who, you will remember, was _not_ a nice man), +when he had a few moments to spare from the cares of governing, to sit +down and think out some new way of annoying the Swiss people. He was +one of those persons who + + "only do it to annoy, + Because they know it teases." + +What he liked chiefly was to forbid something. He would find out what +the people most enjoyed doing, and then he would send a herald to say +that he was very sorry, but it must stop. He found that this annoyed +the Swiss more than anything. But now he was rather puzzled what to do, +for he had forbidden everything he could think of. He had forbidden +dancing and singing, and playing on any sort of musical instrument, on +the ground that these things made such a noise, and disturbed people +who wanted to work. He had forbidden the eating of everything except +bread and the simplest sorts of meat, because he said that anything +else upset people, and made them unfit to do anything except sit still +and say how ill they were. And he had forbidden all sorts of games, +because he said they were a waste of time. + +So that now, though he wanted dreadfully to forbid something else, he +could not think of anything. + +Then he had an idea, and this was it: + +He told his servants to cut a long pole. And they cut a very long pole. +Then he said to them, "Go into the hall and bring me one of my hats. +Not my best hat, which I wear on Sundays and on State occasions; nor +yet my second-best, which I wear every day; nor yet, again, the one I +wear when I am out hunting, for all these I need. Fetch me, rather, the +oldest of my hats." And they fetched him the very oldest of his hats. +Then he said, "Put it on top of the pole." And they put it right on top +of the pole. And, last of all, he said, "Go and set up the pole in the +middle of the meadow just outside the gates of the town." And they went +and set up the pole in the very middle of the meadow just outside the +gates of the town. + +Then he sent his heralds out to north and south and east and west to +summon the people together, because he said he had something very +important and special to say to them. And the people came in tens, and +fifties, and hundreds, men, women, and children; and they stood waiting +in front of the Palace steps till Gessler the Governor should come out +and say something very important and special to them. + +And punctually at eleven o'clock, Gessler, having finished a capital +breakfast, came out on to the top step and spoke to them. + +"Ladies and gentlemen,"--he began. (A voice from the crowd: "Speak +up!") + +"Ladies and gentlemen," he began again, in a louder voice, "if I could +catch the man who said 'Speak up!' I would have him bitten in the neck +by wild elephants. (Applause.) I have called you to this place to-day +to explain to you my reason for putting up a pole, on the top of which +is one of my caps, in the meadow just outside the city gates. It is +this: You all, I know, respect and love me." Here he paused for the +audience to cheer, but as they remained quite silent he went on: "You +would all, I know, like to come to my Palace every day and do reverence +to me. (A voice: 'No, no!') If I could catch the man who said 'No, no!' +I would have him stung on the soles of the feet by pink scorpions; and +if he was the same man who said 'Speak up!' a little while ago, the +number of scorpions should be doubled. (Loud applause.) As I was saying +before I was interrupted, I know you would like to come to my Palace +and do reverence to me there. But, as you are many and space is +limited, I am obliged to refuse you that pleasure. However, being +anxious not to disappoint you, I have set up my cap in the meadow, and +you may do reverence to _that_. In fact, you _must_. Everybody is +to look on that cap as if it were me. (A voice: 'It ain't so ugly as +you!') If I could catch the man who made that remark I would have him +tied up and teased by trained bluebottles. (Deafening applause.) In +fact, to put the matter briefly, if anybody crosses that meadow without +bowing down before that cap, my soldiers will arrest him, and I will +have him pecked on the nose by infuriated blackbirds. So there! +Soldiers, move that crowd on!" + +And Gessler disappeared indoors again, just as a volley of eggs and +cabbages whistled through the air. And the soldiers began to hustle the +crowd down the various streets till the open space in front of the +Palace gates was quite cleared of them. All this happened the day +before Tell and Walter set out for the town. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Having set up the pole and cap in the meadow, Gessler sent two of his +bodyguard, Friesshardt (I should think you would be safe in pronouncing +this Freeze-hard, but you had better ask somebody who knows) and +Leuthold, to keep watch there all day, and see that nobody passed by +without kneeling down before the pole and taking off his hat to it. + +But the people, who prided themselves on being what they called +_üppen zie schnuffen_, or, as we should say, "up to snuff," and +equal to every occasion, had already seen a way out of the difficulty. +They knew that if they crossed the meadow they must bow down before the +pole, which they did not want to do, so it occurred to them that an +ingenious way of preventing this would be not to cross the meadow. So +they went the long way round, and the two soldiers spent a lonely day. + +"What I sez," said Friesshardt, "is, wot's the use of us wasting our +time here?" (Friesshardt was not a very well-educated man, and he did +not speak good grammar.) "None of these here people ain't a-going to +bow down to that there hat. Of course they ain't. Why, I can remember +the time when this meadow was like a fair--everybody a-shoving and +a-jostling one another for elbow-room; and look at it now! It's a desert. +That's what it is, a desert. What's the good of us wasting of our time +here, I sez. That's what I sez. + +"And they're artful, too, mind yer," he continued. "Why, only this +morning, I sez to myself, 'Friesshardt,' I sez, 'you just wait till +twelve o'clock,' I sez, ''cos that's when they leave the council-house, +and then they'll _have_ to cross the meadow. And then we'll see +what we _shall_ see,' I sez. Like that, I sez. Bitter-like, yer +know. 'We'll see,' I sez, 'what we _shall_ see.' So I waited, and +at twelve o'clock out they came, dozens of them, and began to cross the +meadow. 'And now,' sez I to myself, 'look out for larks.' But what +happened? Why, when they came to the pole, the priest stood in front of +it, and the sacristan rang the bell, and they all fell down on their +knees. But they were saying their prayers, not doing obeisance to the +hat. That's what _they_ were doing. Artful--that's what _they_ are!" + +And Friesshardt kicked the foot of the pole viciously with his iron +boot. + +"It's my belief," said Leuthold (Leuthold is the thin soldier you see +in the picture)--"it's my firm belief that they are laughing at us. +There! Listen to that!" + +A voice made itself heard from behind a rock not far off. + +"Where did you get that hat?" said the voice. + +"There!" grumbled Leuthold; "they're always at it. Last time it was, +'Who's your hatter?' Why, we're the laughing-stock of the place. We're +like two rogues in a pillory. 'Tis rank disgrace for one who wears a +sword to stand as sentry o'er an empty hat. To make obeisance to a hat! +I' faith, such a command is downright foolery!" + +"Well," said Friesshardt, "and why not bow before an empty hat? Thou +hast oft bow'd before an empty skull. Ha, ha! I was always one for a +joke, yer know." + +"Here come some people," said Leuthold. "At last! And they're only the +rabble, after all. You don't catch any of the better sort of people +coming here." + +A crowd was beginning to collect on the edge of the meadow. Its numbers +swelled every minute, until quite a hundred of the commoner sort must +have been gathered together. They stood pointing at the pole and +talking among themselves, but nobody made any movement to cross the +meadow. + +At last somebody shouted "Yah!" + +The soldiers took no notice. + +Somebody else cried "Booh!"' + +"Pass along there, pass along!" said the soldiers. + +Cries of "Where did you get that hat?" began to come from the body of +the crowd. When the Swiss invented a catch-phrase they did not drop it +in a hurry. + +"Where--did--you--get--that--HAT?" they shouted. + +Friesshardt and Leuthold stood like two statues in armour, paying no +attention to the remarks of the rabble. This annoyed the rabble. They +began to be more personal. + +"You in the second-hand lobster-tin," shouted one--he meant +Friesshardt, whose suit of armour, though no longer new, hardly +deserved this description--"who's your hatter?" + +"Can't yer see," shouted a friend, when Friesshardt made no reply, "the +pore thing ain't alive? 'E's stuffed!" + +Roars of laughter greeted this sally. Friesshardt, in spite of the fact +that he enjoyed a joke, turned pink. + +"'E's blushing!" shrieked a voice. + +Friesshardt turned purple. + +Then things got still more exciting. + +"'Ere," said a rough voice in the crowd impatiently, "wot's the good of +_torkin'_ to 'em? Gimme that 'ere egg, missus!" + +And in another instant an egg flew across the meadow, and burst over +Leuthold's shoulder. The crowd howled with delight. This was something +_like_ fun, thought they, and the next moment eggs, cabbages, +cats, and missiles of every sort darkened the air. The two soldiers +raved and shouted, but did not dare to leave their post. At last, just +as the storm was at its height, it ceased, as if by magic. Everyone in +the crowd turned round, and, as he turned, jumped into the air and +waved his hat. + +[Illustration: PLATE III] + +A deafening cheer went up. + +"Hurrah!" cried the mob; "here comes good old Tell! _Now_ there's +going to be a jolly row!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Tell came striding along, Walter by his side, and his cross-bow over +his shoulder. He knew nothing about the hat having been placed on the +pole, and he was surprised to see such a large crowd gathered in the +meadow. He bowed to the crowd in his polite way, and the crowd gave +three cheers and one more, and he bowed again. + +"Hullo!" said Walter suddenly; "look at that hat up there, father. On +the pole." + +"What is the hat to us?" said Tell; and he began to walk across the +meadow with an air of great dignity, and Walter walked by his side, +trying to look just like him. + +"Here! hi!" shouted the soldiers. "Stop! You haven't bowed down to the +cap." + +[Illustration: PLATE IV] + +Tell looked scornful, but said nothing. Walter looked still more +scornful. + +"Ho, there!" shouted Friesshardt, standing in front of him. "I bid you +stand in the Emperor's name." + +"My good fellow," said Tell, "please do not bother me. I am in a hurry. +I really have nothing for you." + +"My orders is," said Friesshardt, "to stand in this 'ere meadow and to +see as how all them what passes through it does obeisance to that there +hat. Them's Governor's orders, them is. So now." + +"My good fellow," said Tell, "let me pass. I shall get cross, I know I +shall." + +Shouts of encouragement from the crowd, who were waiting patiently for +the trouble to begin. + +"Go it, Tell!" they cried. "Don't stand talking to him. Hit him a +kick!" + +Friesshardt became angrier every minute. + +"My orders is," he said again, "to arrest them as don't bow down to the +hat, and for two pins, young feller, I'll arrest you. So which is it to +be? Either you bow down to that there hat or you come along of me." + +Tell pushed him aside, and walked on with his chin in the air. Walter +went with him, with his chin in the air. + +WHACK! + +A howl of dismay went up from the crowd as they saw Friesshardt raise +his pike and bring it down with all his force on Tell's head. The sound +of the blow went echoing through the meadow and up the hills and down +the valleys. + +[Illustration: PLATE V] + +"Ow!" cried Tell. + +"_Now_," thought the crowd, "things must begin to get exciting." + +Tell's first idea was that one of the larger mountains in the +neighbourhood had fallen on top of him. Then he thought that there must +have been an earthquake. Then it gradually dawned upon him that he had +been hit by a mere common soldier with a pike. Then he _was_ +angry. + +"Look here!" he began. + +"Look there!" said Friesshardt, pointing to the cap. + +[Illustration: PLATE VI] + +"You've hurt my head very much," said Tell. "Feel the bump. If I hadn't +happened to have a particularly hard head I don't know what might not +have happened;" and he raised his fist and hit Friesshardt; but as +Friesshardt was wearing a thick iron helmet the blow did not hurt him +very much. + +But it had the effect of bringing the crowd to Tell's assistance. They +had been waiting all this time for him to begin the fighting, for +though they were very anxious to attack the soldiers, they did not like +to do so by themselves. They wanted a leader. + +So when they saw Tell hit Friesshardt, they tucked up their sleeves, +grasped their sticks and cudgels more tightly, and began to run across +the meadow towards him. + +Neither of the soldiers noticed this. Friesshardt was busy arguing with +Tell, and Leuthold was laughing at Friesshardt. So when the people came +swarming up with their sticks and cudgels they were taken by surprise. +But every soldier in the service of Gessler was as brave as a lion, and +Friesshardt and Leuthold were soon hitting back merrily, and making a +good many of the crowd wish that they had stayed at home. The two +soldiers were wearing armour, of course, so that it was difficult to +hurt them; but the crowd, who wore no armour, found that _they_ +could get hurt very easily. Conrad Hunn, for instance, was attacking +Friesshardt, when the soldier happened to drop his pike. It fell on +Conrad's toe, and Conrad limped away, feeling that fighting was no fun +unless you had thick boots on. + +And so for a time the soldiers had the best of the fight. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +For many minutes the fight raged furiously round the pole, and the +earth shook beneath the iron boots of Friesshardt and Leuthold as they +rushed about, striking out right and left with their fists and the +flats of their pikes. Seppi the cowboy (an ancestor, by the way, of +Buffalo Bill) went down before a tremendous blow by Friesshardt, and +Leuthold knocked Klaus von der Flue head over heels. + +"What you _want_" said Arnold of Sewa, who had seen the beginning +of the fight from the window of his cottage and had hurried to join it, +and, as usual, to give advice to everybody--"what you want here is +guile. That's what you want--guile, cunning. Not brute force, mind you. +It's no good rushing at a man in armour and hitting him. He only hits +you back. You should employ guile. Thus. Observe." + +He had said these words standing on the outskirts of the crowd. He now +grasped his cudgel and began to steal slowly towards Friesshardt, who +had just given Werni the huntsman such a hit with his pike that the +sound of it was still echoing in the mountains, and was now busily +engaged in disposing of Jost Weiler. Arnold of Sewa crept stealthily +behind him, and was just about to bring his cudgel down on his head, +when Leuthold, catching sight of him, saved his comrade by driving his +pike with all his force into Arnold's side. Arnold said afterwards that +it completely took his breath away. He rolled over, and after being +trodden on by everybody for some minutes, got up and limped back to his +cottage, where he went straight to bed, and did not get up for two +days. + +All this time Tell had been standing a little way off with his arms +folded, looking on. While it was a quarrel simply between himself and +Friesshardt he did not mind fighting. But when the crowd joined in he +felt that it was not fair to help so many men attack one, however badly +that one might have behaved. + +He now saw that the time had come to put an end to the disturbance. He +drew an arrow from his quiver, placed it in his crossbow, and pointed +it at the hat. Friesshardt, seeing what he intended to do, uttered a +shout of horror and rushed to stop him. But at that moment somebody in +the crowd hit him so hard with a spade that his helmet was knocked over +his eyes, and before he could raise it again the deed was done. Through +the cap and through the pole and out at the other side sped the arrow. +And the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Tell standing +beside him twirling his moustache, while all around the crowd danced +and shouted and threw their caps into the air with joy. + +[Illustration: PLATE VII] + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII] + +"A mere trifle," said Tell modestly. + +The crowd cheered again and again. + +Friesshardt and Leuthold lay on the ground beside the pole, feeling +very sore and bruised, and thought that perhaps, on the whole, they had +better stay there. There was no knowing what the crowd might do after +this, if they began to fight again. So they lay on the ground and made +no attempt to interfere with the popular rejoicings. What they +_wanted_, as Arnold of Sewa might have said if he had been there, +was a few moments' complete rest. Leuthold's helmet had been hammered +with sticks until it was over his eyes and all out of shape, and +Friesshardt's was very little better. And they both felt just as if +they had been run over in the street by a horse and cart. + +"Tell!" shouted the crowd. "Hurrah for Tell! Good old Tell!" + +"Tell's the boy!" roared Ulric the smith. "Not another man in +Switzerland could have made that shot." + +"No," shrieked everybody, "not another!" + +"Speech!" cried someone from the edge of the crowd. + +"Speech! Speech! Tell, speech!" Everybody took up the cry. + +"No, no," said Tell, blushing. + +"Go on, go on!" shouted the crowd. + +"Oh, I couldn't," said Tell; "I don't know what to say." + +"Anything will do. Speech! Speech!" + +Ulric the smith and Ruodi the fisherman hoisted Tell on to their +shoulders, and, having coughed once or twice, he said: + +"Gentlemen--" + +Cheers from the crowd. + +"Gentlemen," said Tell again, "this is the proudest moment of my life." + +More cheers. + +"I don't know what you want me to talk about. I have never made a +speech before. Excuse my emotion. This is the proudest moment of my +life. To-day is a great day for Switzerland. We have struck the first +blow of the revolution. Let us strike some more." + +Shouts of "Hear, hear!" from the crowd, many of whom, misunderstanding +Tell's last remark, proceeded to hit Leuthold and Friesshardt, until +stopped by cries of "Order!" from Ulric the smith. + +"Gentlemen," continued Tell, "the floodgates of revolution have been +opened. From this day they will stalk through the land burning to ashes +the slough of oppression which our tyrant Governor has erected in our +midst. I have only to add that this is the proudest moment of my life, +and----" + +He was interrupted by a frightened voice. + +"Look out, you chaps," said the voice; "here comes the Governor!" + +Gessler, with a bodyguard of armed men, had entered the meadow, and was +galloping towards them. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Gessler came riding up on his brown horse, and the crowd melted away in +all directions, for there was no knowing what the Governor might not do +if he found them plotting. They were determined to rebel and to throw +off his tyrannous yoke, but they preferred to do it quietly and +comfortably, when he was nowhere near. + +So they ran away to the edge of the meadow, and stood there in groups, +waiting to see what was going to happen. Not even Ulric the smith and +Ruodi the fisherman waited, though they knew quite well that Tell had +not nearly finished his speech. They set the orator down, and began to +walk away, trying to look as if they had been doing nothing in +particular, and were going to go on doing it--only somewhere else. + +Tell was left standing alone in the middle of the meadow by the pole. +He scorned to run away like the others, but he did not at all like the +look of things. Gessler was a stern man, quick to punish any insult, +and there were two of his soldiers lying on the ground with their nice +armour all spoiled and dented, and his own cap on top of the pole had +an arrow right through the middle of it, and would never look the same +again, however much it might be patched. It seemed to Tell that there +was a bad time coming. + +Gessler rode up, and reined in his horse. + +"Now then, now then, now then!" he said, in his quick, abrupt way. +"What's this? what's this? what's this?" + +(When a man repeats what he says three times, you can see that he is +not in a good temper.) + +Friesshardt and Leuthold got up, saluted, and limped slowly towards +him. They halted beside his horse, and stood to attention. The tears +trickled down their cheeks. + +"Come, come, come!" said Gessler; "tell me all about it." + +[Illustration: PLATE IX] + +And he patted Friesshardt on the head. Friesshardt bellowed. + +Gessler beckoned to one of his courtiers. + +"Have you a handkerchief?" he said. + +"I have a handkerchief, your Excellency." + +"Then dry this man's eyes." + +The courtier did as he was bidden. + +"_Now_," said Gessler, when the drying was done, and Friesshardt's +tears had ceased, "what has been happening here? I heard a cry of +'Help!' as I came up. Who cried 'Help!'?" + +"Please, your lordship's noble Excellencyship," said Friesshardt, "it +was me, Friesshardt." + +"You should say, 'It was I,'" said Gessler. "Proceed." + +"Which I am a loyal servant of your Excellency's, and in your +Excellency's army, and seeing as how I was told to stand by this 'ere +pole and guard that there hat, I stood by this 'ere pole, and guarded +that there hat--all day, I did, your Excellency. And then up comes this +man here, and I says to him--'Bow down to the hat,' I says. 'Ho!' he +says to me--'ho, indeed!' and he passed on without so much as nodding. +So I takes my pike, and I taps him on the head to remind him, as you +may say, that there was something he was forgetting, and he ups and +hits me, he does. And then the crowd runs up with their sticks and hits +me and Leuthold cruel, your Excellency. And while we was a-fighting +with them, this here man I'm a-telling you about, your Excellency, he +outs with an arrow, puts it into his bow, and sends it through the hat, +and I don't see how you'll ever be able to wear it again. It's a waste +of a good hat, your Excellency--that's what it is. And then the people, +they puts me and Leuthold on the ground, and hoists this here man--Tell, +they call him--up on their shoulders, and he starts making a speech, +when up you comes, your Excellency. That's how it all was." + +Gessler turned pale with rage, and glared fiercely at Tell, who stood +before him in the grasp of two of the bodyguard. + +"Ah," he said, "Tell, is it? Good-day to you, Tell. I think we've met +before, Tell? Eh, Tell?" + +"We have, your Excellency. It was in the ravine of Schächenthal," said +Tell firmly. + +"Your memory is good, Tell. So is mine. I think you made a few remarks +to me on that occasion, Tell--a few chatty remarks? Eh, Tell?" + +"Very possibly, your Excellency." + +"You were hardly polite, Tell." + +"If I offended you I am sorry." + +"I am glad to hear it, Tell. I think you will be even sorrier before +long. So you've been ill-treating my soldiers, eh?" + +"It was not I who touched them." + +"Oh, so you didn't touch them? Ah! But you defied my power by refusing +to bow down to the hat. I set up that hat to prove the people's +loyalty. I am afraid you are not loyal, Tell." + +"I was a little thoughtless, not disloyal. I passed the hat without +thinking." + +"You should always think, Tell. It is very dangerous not to do so. And +I suppose that you shot your arrow through the hat without thinking?" + +"I was a little carried away by excitement, your Excellency." + +"Dear, dear! Carried away by excitement, were you? You must really be +more careful, Tell. One of these days you will be getting yourself into +trouble. But it seems to have been a very fine shot. You _are_ a +capital marksman, I believe?" + +"Father's the best shot in all Switzerland," piped a youthful voice. +"He can hit an apple on a tree a hundred yards away. I've seen him. +Can't you, father?" + +Walter, who had run away when the fighting began, had returned on +seeing his father in the hands of the soldiers. + +Gessler turned a cold eye upon him. + +"Who is this?" he asked. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +"It is my son Walter, your Excellency," said Tell. + +"Your son? Indeed. This is very interesting. Have you any more +children?" + +"I have one other boy." + +"And which of them do you love the most, eh?" + +"I love them both alike, your Excellency." + +"Dear me! Quite a happy family. Now, listen to me, Tell. I know you are +fond of excitement, so I am going to try to give you a little. Your son +says that you can hit an apple on a tree a hundred yards away, and I am +sure you have every right to be very proud of such a feat. +Friesshardt!" + +"Your Excellency?" + +"Bring me an apple." + +Friesshardt picked one up. Some apples had been thrown at him and +Leuthold earlier in the day, and there were several lying about. + +"Which I'm afraid as how it's a little bruised, your Excellency," he +said, "having hit me on the helmet." + +"Thank you. I do not require it for eating purposes," said Gessler. +"Now, Tell, I have here an apple--a simple apple, not over-ripe. I +should like to test that feat of yours. So take your bow--I see you +have it in your hand--and get ready to shoot. I am going to put this +apple on your son's head. He will be placed a hundred yards away from +you, and if you do not hit the apple with your first shot your life +shall pay forfeit." + +[Illustration: PLATE X] + +And he regarded Tell with a look of malicious triumph. + +"Your Excellency, it cannot be!" cried Tell; "the thing is too +monstrous. Perhaps your Excellency is pleased to jest. You cannot bid a +father shoot an apple from off his son's head! Consider, your +Excellency!" + +"You shall shoot the apple from off the head of this boy," said Gessler +sternly. "I do not jest. That is my will." + +"Sooner would I die," said Tell. + +"If you do not shoot you die with the boy. Come, come, Tell, why so +cautious? They always told me that you loved perilous enterprises, and +yet when I give you one you complain. I could understand anybody else +shrinking from the feat. But you! Hitting apples at a hundred yards is +child's play to you. And what does it matter where the apple is--whether +it is on a tree or on a boy's head? It is an apple just the same. +Proceed, Tell." + +The crowd, seeing a discussion going on, had left the edge of the +meadow and clustered round to listen. A groan of dismay went up at the +Governor's words. + +"Down on your knees, boy," whispered Rudolph der Harras to Walter--"down +on your knees, and beg his Excellency for your life." + +"I won't!" said Walter stoutly. + +"Come," said Gessler, "clear a path there--clear a path! Hurry +yourselves. I won't have this loitering. Look you, Tell: attend to me +for a moment. I find you in the middle of this meadow deliberately +defying my authority and making sport of my orders. I find you in the +act of stirring up discontent among my people with speeches. I might +have you executed without ceremony. But do I? No. Nobody shall say that +Hermann Gessler the Governor is not kind-hearted. I say to myself, 'I +will give this man one chance.' I place your fate in your own skilful +hands. How can a man complain of harsh treatment when he is made master +of his own fate? Besides, I don't ask you to do anything difficult. I +merely hid you perform what must be to you a simple shot. You boast of +your unerring aim. Now is the time to prove it. Clear the way there!" + +Walter Fürst flung himself on his knees before the Governor. + +"Your Highness," he cried, "none deny your power. Let it be mingled +with mercy. It is excellent, as an English poet will say in a few +hundred years, to have a giant's strength, but it is tyrannous to +use it like a giant. Take the half of my possessions, but spare my +son-in-law." + +But Walter Tell broke in impatiently, and bade his grandfather rise, +and not kneel to the tyrant. + +"Where must I stand?" asked he. "I'm not afraid. Father can hit a bird +upon the wing." + +"You see that lime-tree yonder," said Gessler to his soldiers; "take +the boy and bind him to it." + +"I will not be bound!" cried Walter. "I am not afraid. I'll stand +still. I won't breathe. If you bind me I'll kick!" + +"Let us bind your eyes, at least," said Rudolph der Harras. + +"Do you think I fear to see father shoot?" said Walter. "I won't stir +an eyelash. Father, show the tyrant how you can shoot. He thinks you're +going to miss. Isn't he an old donkey!" + +"Very well, young man," muttered Gessler, "we'll see who is laughing +five minutes from now." And once more he bade the crowd stand back and +leave a way clear for Tell to shoot. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +The crowd fell back, leaving a lane down which Walter walked, carrying +the apple. There was dead silence as he passed. Then the people began +to whisper excitedly to one another. + +"Shall this be done before our eyes?" said Arnold of Melchthal to +Werner Stauffacher. "Of what use was it that we swore an oath to rebel +if we permit this? Let us rise and slay the tyrant." + +Werner Stauffacher, prudent man, scratched his chin thoughtfully. + +"We-e-ll," he said, "you see, the difficulty is that we are not armed +and the soldiers _are_. There is nothing I should enjoy more than +slaying the tyrant, only I have an idea that the tyrant would slay us. +You see my point?" + +"Why were we so slow!" groaned Arnold. "We should have risen before, +and then this would never have happened. Who was it that advised us to +delay?" + +"We-e-ll," said Stauffacher (who had himself advised delay), "I can't +quite remember at the moment, but I dare say you could find out by +looking up the minutes of our last meeting. I know the motion was +carried by a majority of two votes. See! Gessler grows impatient." + +Gessler, who had been fidgeting on his horse for some time, now spoke +again, urging Tell to hurry. + +"Begin!" he cried--"begin!" + +"Immediately," replied Tell, fitting the arrow to the string. + +Gessler began to mock him once more. + +"You see now," he said, "the danger of carrying arms. I don't know if +you have ever noticed it, but arrows very often recoil on the man who +carries them. The only man who has any business to possess a weapon is +the ruler of a country--myself, for instance. A low, common fellow--if +you will excuse the description--like yourself only grows proud through +being armed, and so offends those above him. But, of course, it's no +business of mine. I am only telling you what I think about it. +Personally, I like to encourage my subjects to shoot; that is why I am +giving you such a splendid mark to shoot at. You see, Tell?" + +Tell did not reply. He raised his bow and pointed it. There was a stir +of excitement in the crowd, more particularly in that part of the crowd +which stood on his right, for, his hand trembling for the first time in +his life, Tell had pointed his arrow, not at his son, but straight into +the heart of the crowd. + +[Illustration: PLATE XI] + +"Here! Hi! That's the wrong way! More to the left!" shouted the people +in a panic, while Gessler roared with laughter, and bade Tell shoot and +chance it. + +"If you can't hit the apple or your son," he chuckled, "you can bring +down one of your dear fellow-countrymen." + +Tell lowered his bow, and a sigh of relief went through the crowd. + +"My eyes are swimming," he said; "I cannot see." + +Then he turned to the Governor. + +"I cannot shoot," he said; "bid your soldiers kill me." + +"No," said Gessler--"no, Tell. That is not at all what I want. If I had +wished my soldiers to kill you, I should not have waited for a formal +invitation from you. I have no desire to see you slain. Not at present. +I wish to see you shoot. Come, Tell, they say you can do everything, +and are afraid of nothing. Only the other day, I hear, you carried a +man, one Baumgartner--that was his name, I think--across a rough sea in +an open boat. You may remember it? I particularly wished to catch +Baumgartner, Tell. Now, this is a feat which calls for much less +courage. Simply to shoot an apple off a boy's head. A child could do +it." + +While he was speaking, Tell had been standing in silence, his hands +trembling and his eyes fixed, sometimes on the Governor, sometimes on +the sky. He now seized his quiver, and taking from it a second arrow, +placed it in his belt. Gessler watched him, but said nothing. + +"Shoot, father!" cried Walter from the other end of the lane; "I'm not +afraid." + +Tell, calm again now, raised his bow and took a steady aim. Everybody +craned forward, the front ranks in vain telling those behind that there +was nothing to be gained by pushing. Gessler bent over his horse's neck +and peered eagerly towards Walter. A great hush fell on all as Tell +released the string. + +"Phut!" went the string, and the arrow rushed through the air. + +A moment's suspense, and then a terrific cheer rose from the +spectators. + +[Illustration: PLATE XII] + +The apple had leaped from Walter's head, pierced through the centre. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Intense excitement instantly reigned. Their suspense over, the crowd +cheered again and again, shook hands with one another, and flung their +caps into the air. Everyone was delighted, for everyone was fond of +Tell and Walter. It also pleased them to see the Governor disappointed. +He had had things his own way for so long that it was a pleasant change +to see him baffled in this manner. Not since Switzerland became a +nation had the meadow outside the city gates been the scene of such +rejoicings. + +Walter had picked up the apple with the arrow piercing it, and was +showing it proudly to all his friends. + +"I told you so," he kept saying; "I knew father wouldn't hurt me. +Father's the best shot in all Switzerland." + +"That was indeed a shot!" exclaimed Ulric the smith; "it will ring +through the ages. While the mountains stand will the tale of Tell the +bowman be told." + +Rudolph der Harras took the apple from Walter and showed it to Gessler, +who had been sitting transfixed on his horse. + +"See," he said, "the arrow has passed through the very centre. It was a +master shot." + +"It was very nearly a 'Master Walter shot,'" said Rösselmann the priest +severely, fixing the Governor with a stern eye. + +Gessler made no answer. He sat looking moodily at Tell, who had dropped +his cross-bow and was standing motionless, still gazing in the +direction in which the arrow had sped. Nobody liked to be the first to +speak to him. + +"Well," said Rudolph der Harras, breaking an awkward silence, "I +suppose it's all over now? May as well be moving, eh?" + +He bit a large piece out of the apple, which he still held. Walter +uttered a piercing scream as he saw the mouthful disappear. Up till now +he had shown no signs of dismay, in spite of the peril which he had had +to face; but when he watched Rudolph eating the apple, which he +naturally looked upon as his own property, he could not keep quiet any +longer. Rudolph handed him the apple with an apology, and he began to +munch it contentedly. + +"Come with me to your mother, my boy," said Rösselmann. + +Walter took no notice, but went on eating the apple. + +Tell came to himself with a start, looked round for Walter, and began +to lead him away in the direction of his home, deaf to all the cheering +that was going on around him. + +Gessler leaned forward in his saddle. + +"Tell," he said, "a word with you." + +Tell came back. + +"Your Excellency?" + +"Before you go I wish you to explain one thing." + +"A thousand, your Excellency." + +"No, only one. When you were getting ready to shoot at the apple you +placed an arrow in the string and a second arrow in your belt." + +"A second arrow!" Tell pretended to be very much astonished, but the +pretence did not deceive the Governor. + +"Yes, a second arrow. Why was that? What did you intend to do with that +arrow, Tell?" + +Tell looked down uneasily, and twisted his bow about in his hands. + +"My lord," he said at last, "it is a bowman's custom. All archers place +a second arrow in their belt." + +"No, Tell," said Gessler, "I cannot take that answer as the truth. I +know there was some other meaning in what you did. Tell me the reason +without concealment. Why was it? Your life is safe, whatever it was, so +speak out. Why did you take out that second arrow?" + +Tell stopped fidgeting with his bow, and met the Governor's eye with a +steady gaze. + +"Since you promise me my life, your Excellency," he replied, drawing +himself up, "I will tell you." + +He drew the arrow from his belt and held it up. + +The crowd pressed forward, hanging on his words. + +"Had my first arrow," said Tell slowly, "pierced my child and not the +apple, this would have pierced you, my lord. Had I missed with my first +shot, be sure, my lord, that my second would have found its mark." + +A murmur of approval broke from the crowd as Tell thrust the arrow back +into the quiver and faced the Governor with folded arms and burning +eyes. Gessler turned white with fury. + +"Seize that man!" he shouted. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIII] + +"My lord, bethink you," whispered Rudolph der Harras; "you promised him +his life. Tell, fly!" he cried. + +Tell did not move. + +"Seize that man and bind him," roared Gessler once more. "If he +resists, cut him down." + +"I shall not resist," said Tell scornfully. "I should have known the +folly of trusting to a tyrant to keep his word. My death will at least +show my countrymen the worth of their Governor's promises." + +"Not so," replied Gessler; "no man shall say I ever broke my knightly +word. I promised you your life, and I will give you your life. But you +are a dangerous man, Tell, and against such must I guard myself. You +have told me your murderous purpose. I must look to it that that +purpose is not fulfilled. Life I promised you, and life I will give +you. But of freedom I said nothing. In my castle at Küssnacht there are +dungeons where no ray of sun or moon ever falls. Chained hand and foot +in one of these, you will hardly aim your arrows at me. It is rash, +Tell, to threaten those who have power over you. Soldiers, bind him and +lead him to my ship. I will follow, and will myself conduct him to +Küssnacht." + +The soldiers tied Tell's hands. He offered no resistance. And amidst +the groans of the people he was led away to the shore of the lake, +where Gessler's ship lay at anchor. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIV] + +"Our last chance is gone," said the people to one another. "Where shall +we look now for a leader?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The castle of Küssnacht lay on the opposite side of the lake, a mighty +mass of stone reared on a mightier crag rising sheer out of the waves, +which boiled and foamed about its foot. Steep rocks of fantastic shape +hemmed it in, and many were the vessels which perished on these, driven +thither by the frequent storms that swept over the lake. + +Gessler and his men, Tell in their midst, bound and unarmed, embarked +early in the afternoon at Flüelen, which was the name of the harbour +where the Governor's ship had been moored. Flüelen was about two miles +from Küssnacht. + +When they had arrived at the vessel they went on board, and Tell was +placed at the bottom of the hold. It was pitch dark, and rats scampered +over his body as he lay. The ropes were cast off, the sails filled, and +the ship made her way across the lake, aided by a favouring breeze. + +A large number of the Swiss people had followed Tell and his captors to +the harbour, and stood gazing sorrowfully after the ship as it +diminished in the distance. There had been whispers of an attempted +rescue, but nobody had dared to begin it, and the whispers had led to +nothing. Few of the people carried weapons, and the soldiers were clad +in armour, and each bore a long pike or a sharp sword. As Arnold of +Sewa would have said if he had been present, what the people wanted was +prudence. It was useless to attack men so thoroughly able to defend +themselves. + +Therefore the people looked on and groaned, but did nothing. + +For some time the ship sped easily on her way and through a calm sea. +Tell lay below, listening to the trampling of the sailors overhead, as +they ran about the deck, and gave up all hope of ever seeing his home +and his friends again. + +But soon he began to notice that the ship was rolling and pitching more +than it had been doing at first, and it was not long before he realized +that a very violent storm had begun. Storms sprung up very suddenly on +the lake, and made it unsafe for boats that attempted to cross it. +Often the sea was quite unruffled at the beginning of the crossing, and +was rough enough at the end to wreck the largest ship. + +Tell welcomed the storm. He had no wish to live if life meant years of +imprisonment in a dark dungeon of Castle Küssnacht. Drowning would be a +pleasant fate compared with that. He lay at the bottom of the ship, +hoping that the next wave would dash them on to a rock and send them to +the bottom of the lake. The tossing became worse and worse. + +Upon the deck Gessler was standing beside the helmsman, and gazing +anxiously across the waters at the rocks that fringed the narrow +entrance to the bay a few hundred yards to the east of Castle +Küssnacht. This bay was the only spot for miles along the shore at +which it was possible to land safely. For miles on either side the +coast was studded with great rocks, which would have dashed a ship to +pieces in a moment. It was to this bay that Gessler wished to direct +the ship. But the helmsman told him that he could not make sure of +finding the entrance, so great was the cloud of spray which covered it. +A mistake would mean shipwreck. + +"My lord," said the helmsman, "I have +neither strength nor skill to guide the helm. I do not know which way +to turn." + +"What are we to do?" asked Rudolph der Harras, who was standing near. + +The helmsman hesitated. Then he spoke, eyeing the Governor uneasily. + +"Tell could steer us through," he said, "if your lordship would but +give him the helm." + +Gessler started. + +"Tell!" he muttered. "Tell!" + +The ship drew nearer to the rocks. + +"Bring him here," said Gessler. + +Two soldiers went down to the hold and released Tell. They bade him get +up and come with them. Tell followed them on deck, and stood before the +Governor. + +"Tell," said Gessler. + +Tell looked at him without speaking. + +"Take the helm, Tell," said Gessler, "and steer the ship through those +rocks into the bay beyond, or instant death shall be your lot." + +Without a word Tell took the helmsman's place, peering keenly into the +cloud of foam before him. To right and to left he turned the vessel's +head, and to right again, into the very heart of the spray. They were +right among the rocks now, but the ship did not strike on them. +Quivering and pitching, she was hurried along, until of a sudden the +spray-cloud was behind her, and in front the calm waters of the bay. + +Gessler beckoned to the helmsman. + +"Take the helm again," he said. + +He pointed to Tell. + +"Bind him," he said to the soldiers. + +The soldiers advanced slowly, for they were loath to bind the man who +had just saved them from destruction. But the Governor's orders must he +obeyed, so they came towards Tell, carrying ropes with which to bind +him. + +Tell moved a step back. The ship was gliding past a lofty rock. It was +such a rock as Tell had often climbed when hunting the chamois. He +acted with the quickness of the hunter. Snatching up the bow and quiver +which lay on the deck, he sprang on to the bulwark of the vessel, and, +with a mighty leap, gained the rock. Another instant, and he was out of +reach. + +Gessler roared to his bowmen. + +"Shoot! shoot!" he cried. + +The bowmen hastily fitted arrow to string. They were too late. Tell was +ready before them. There was a hiss as the shaft rushed through the +air, and the next moment Gessler the Governor fell dead on the deck, +pierced through the heart. + +Tell's second arrow had found its mark, as his first had done. + +[Illustration: PLATE XV] + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +There is not much more of the story of William Tell. The death of +Gessler was a signal to the Swiss to rise in revolt, and soon the whole +country was up in arms against the Austrians. It had been chiefly the +fear of the Governor that had prevented a rising before. It had been +brewing for a long time. The people had been bound by a solemn oath to +drive the enemy out of the country. All through Switzerland +preparations for a revolution were going on, and nobles and peasants +had united. + +Directly the news arrived that the Governor was slain, meetings of the +people were held in every town in Switzerland, and it was resolved to +begin the revolution without delay. All the fortresses that Gessler had +built during his years of rule were carried by assault on the same +night. The last to fall was one which had only been begun a short time +back, and the people who had been forced to help to build it spent a +very pleasant hour pulling down the stones which had cost them such +labour to put in their place. Even the children helped. It was a great +treat to them to break what they pleased without being told not to. + +"See," said Tell, as he watched them, "in years to come, when these +same children are gray-haired, they will remember this night as freshly +as they will remember it to-morrow." + +A number of people rushed up, bearing the pole which Gessler's soldiers +had set up in the meadow. The hat was still on top of it, nailed to the +wood by Tell's arrow. + +"Here's the hat!" shouted Ruodi--"the hat to which we were to bow!" + +"What shall we do with it?" cried several voices. + +"Destroy it! Burn it!" said others. "To the flames with this emblem of +tyranny!" + +But Tell stopped them. + +"Let us preserve it," he said. "Gessler set it up to be a means +of enslaving the country; we will set it up as a memorial of our +newly-gained liberty. Nobly is fulfilled the oath we swore to drive +the tyrants from our land. Let the pole mark the spot where the +revolution finished." + +"But _is_ it finished?" said Arnold of Melchthal. "It is a nice +point. When the Emperor of Austria hears that we have killed his friend +Gessler, and burnt down all his fine new fortresses, will he not come +here to seek revenge?" + +"He will," said Tell. "And let him come. And let him bring all his +mighty armies. We have driven out the enemy that was in our land. We +will meet and drive away the enemy that comes from another country. +Switzerland is not easy to attack. There are but a few mountain passes +by which the foe can approach. We will stop these with our bodies. And +one great strength we have: we are united. And united we need fear no +foe." + +"Hurrah!" shouted everybody. + +"But who is this that approaches?" said Tell. "He seems excited. +Perhaps he brings news." + +It was Rösselmann the pastor, and he brought stirring news. + +"These are strange times in which we live," said Rösselmann, coming up. + +"Why, what has happened?" cried everybody. + +"Listen, and be amazed." + +"Why, what's the matter?" + +"The Emperor----" + +"Yes?" + +"The Emperor is dead." + +"What! dead?" + +"Dead!" + +"Impossible! How came you by the news?" + +"John Müller of Schaffhausen brought it. And he is a truthful man." + +"But how did it happen?" + +"As the Emperor rode from Stein to Baden the lords of Eschenbach and +Tegerfelden, jealous, it is said, of his power, fell upon him with +their spears. His bodyguard were on the other side of a stream--the +Emperor had just crossed it--and could not come to his assistance. He +died instantly." + +By the death of the Emperor the revolution in Switzerland was enabled +to proceed without check. The successor of the Emperor had too much to +do in defending himself against the slayers of his father to think of +attacking the Swiss, and by the time he was at leisure they were too +strong to be attacked. So the Swiss became free. + +As for William Tell, he retired to his home, and lived there very +happily ever afterwards with his wife and his two sons, who in a few +years became very nearly as skilful in the use of the cross-bow as +their father. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + + Some say the tale related here + Is amplified and twisted; + Some say it isn't very clear + That William Tell existed; + Some say he freed his country _so_, + The Governor demolished. + Perhaps he did. I only know + That taxes aren't abolished! + + + + + + * * * * * + + +[The Illustrations and accompanying descriptive verses] + + + + +[PROLOGUE.] + + The Swiss, against their Austrian foes, + Had ne'er a soul to lead 'em, + Till Tell, as you've heard tell, arose + And guided them to freedom. + Tell's tale we tell again--an act + For which pray no one scold us-- + This tale of Tell we tell, in fact, + As this Tell tale was told us. + + + + +PLATE I. + + + Beneath a tyrant foreign yoke, + How love of freedom waxes! + (Especially when foreign folk + Come round collecting taxes.) + The Swiss, held down by Gessler's fist, + Would fain have used evasion; + Yet none there seemed who could resist + His methods of persuasion. + +[Illustration: GESSLER'S METHODS OF PERSUASION] + + + + +PLATE II. + + + And pride so filled this Gessler's soul + (A monarch's pride outclassing), + He stuck his hat up on a pole, + That all might bow in passing. + Then rose the patriot, William Tell-- + "We've groaned 'neath Austria's sway first; + Must we be ruled by poles as well? + I've just a word to say first!" + +[Illustration: THEY WOULD MARCH ABOUT, BEATING TIN CANS AND SHOUTING] + + + + +PLATE III. + + + The crowd about the pole at morn + Used various "persuaders"-- + They flung old cans (to prove their scorn + Of all tin-pot invaders); + And cabbage-stumps were freely dealt, + And apples (inexpensive), + And rotten eggs (to show they felt + A foreign yoke offensive). + +[Illustration: AN EGG FLEW ACROSS THE MEADOW, AND BURST OVER LEUTHOLD'S +SHOULDER] + + + + +PLATE IV. + + + Said William Tell, "And has this cuss + For conquest such a passion + He needs must set his cap at us + In this exalted fashion?" + And then the people gave a cry, + 'Twixt joy and apprehension, + To see him pass the symbol by + With studied inattention! + +[Illustration: "HERE! HI!" SHOUTED THE SOLDIERS, "STOP!"] + + + + +PLATE V. + + + At first the sentinel, aghast, + Glared like an angry dumb thing; + Then "Hi!" he shouted, "not so fast, + You're overlooking something!" + The sturdy Tell made no response; + Then through the hills resounded + A mighty thwack upon his sconce-- + The people were astounded. + +[Illustration: THEY SAW FRIESSHARDT RAISE HIS PIKE, AND BRING IT DOWN +WITH ALL HIS FORCE ON TELL'S HEAD] + + + + +PLATE VI. + + + Could Tell an insult such as this + Ignore or pass? I doubt it! + No, no; that patriotic Swiss + Was very cross about it. + The people, interested now, + Exclaimed, "Here! Stop a minute + If there's to be a jolly row, + By Jingo! we'll be in it!" + +[Illustration: "LOOK HERE!" HE BEGAN. "LOOK THERE!" SAID FRIESSHARDT] + + + + +PLATE VII. + + + Said Tell, "This satrap of the Duke + Is sore in need of gumption; + With my good bow I will rebuke + Such arrow-gant presumption." + "Stand back!" the soldier says, says he; + "This roughness is unseemly!" + The people cried, "We _will_ be FREE!" + And so they were--extremely! + +[Illustration: FRIESSHARDT RUSHED TO STOP HIM] + + + + +PLATE VIII. + + + They dealt that soldier thump on thump + (He hadn't any notion, + When on Tell's head he raised that bump, + Of raising this commotion); + Tell's arrow sped, the people crowed, + And loudly cheered his action; + While Tell's expressive features showed + A certain satisfaction. + +[Illustration: THE CROWD DANCED AND SHOUTED] + + + + +PLATE IX. + + + Now, when the cat's away, the mice + Are very enterprising, + But cats return, and, in a trice-- + Well, Gessler nipped that rising. + And when those soldiers lodged complaint + (Which truly didn't lack ground), + The people practised self-restraint + And fell into the background. + +[Illustration: "COME, COME, COME!" SAID GESSLER, "TELL ME ALL ABOUT +IT"] + + + + +PLATE X. + + + And Tell, before the tyrant hailed, + No patriot you'd have guessed him, + For even his stout bosom quailed + When Gessler thus addressed him:-- + "As you're the crack shot of these Swiss + (I've often heard it said so), + Suppose you take a shot at this, + Placed on your youngster's head--so!" + +[Illustration: "I HAVE HERE AN APPLE"] + + + + +PLATE XI. + + + "The bearing," as they say, "of that + Lay in the apple-cation," + And nobody will wonder at + A parent's agitation; + That anguish filled Tell's bosom proud + Needs scarcely to be stated, + And, it will be observed, the crowd + Was also agitated. + +[Illustration: THERE WAS A STIR OF EXCITEMENT IN THE CROWD] + + + + +PLATE XII. + + + Said Gessler, "This is all my eye! + Come, hurry up and _buck_ up! + Remember, if you miss, you die-- + That ought to keep your pluck up. + The flying arrow may, no doubt, + Your offspring's bosom enter--" + But here there rose a mighty shout: + "By George! He's scored a centre!" + +[Illustration: A MOMENT'S SUSPENSE, AND THEN A TERRIFIC CHEER AROSE +FROM THE SPECTATORS] + + + + +PLATE XIII. + + + But, as the arrow cleft the core, + Cried G. with indignation, + "What was the second arrow for? + Come, no e-quiver-cation! + You had a second in your fist." + Said Tell, the missile grippin', + "This shaft (had I that apple missed) + Was meant for you, my pippin!" + +[Illustration: "SEIZE THAT MAN!" HE SHOUTED] + + + + +PLATE XIV. + + + With rage the tyrant said, said he, + "It's time to stop this prating; + I find your style of repartee + Extremely irritating. + You'll hang for this, be pleased to note." + On this they bound and gagged him + (For Gessler's castle booked by boat), + And through the village dragged him. + +[Illustration: HE WAS LED AWAY TO THE SHORE OF THE LAKE] + + + + +PLATE XV. + + + But slips between the cup and lip, + When least expected, peer through-- + A storm arose upon the trip + Which Tell alone could steer through. + Thus, of all hands he quickly got + (As you may see) the upper, + At Gessler took a parting shot, + And hurried home to supper. + +[Illustration: TELL'S SECOND ARROW HAD FOUND ITS MARK] + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + + Some say the tale related here + Is amplified and twisted; + Some say it isn't very clear + That William Tell existed; + Some say he freed his country <i>so</i>, + The Governor demolished. + Perhaps he did. 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