which will be ever celebrated in the annals of Helvetia, had married the daughter of Walter Furst, and upon that account, as well as from his enthusiastic attachment to the cause of liberty, had been admitted a member of the patriotic band.

Happening one day to pass through Altorf, the sight of the hat influenced his indignation to such a pitch against the governor, that he not only refused obedience to his fantastic mandate, but treated the magisterial ensign with contempt. Gesler was no sooner informed of what had passed, than he commanded the bold plebeian to be dragged before him, and, giving way to the suggestions of unbridled fury, decreed that, as a punishment for his audacity, he should, at the approaching festival, either pierce, with an arrow, an apple placed upon the head of his son, a boy of five or six years old, or should suffer immediate death. So strange and inhuman a sentence was little calculated either to soothe the minds of the discontented populace, or to calm the resentment of the offended patriot. For some moments he hesitated; but, confident in his own unerring aim, after a little reflection, he accepted the trial. To this, too, he was doubtless, in part, prompted by the consideration that a scene of such wanton cruelty must operate upon the feelings of the spectators in a manner conformable to his secret views.

On the appointed day, Gesler appeared in the market place at Altorf, seated in his chair of state, and encircled by his body-guard. His countenance beWith a savage smile,

spoke the insolence of triumph.

he ordered the culprit to be brought forward. Tell

came with a resolute step. The attentive crowd, who had been attracted from the remotest valleys to the spot, trembled as he passed. He took his post. The boy was stationed, by the governor's direction, at a distance which appeared to him the most unfavorable to the archer's skill. Tell grasped his bow. Mute attention prevailed. Every heart beat with interest and anxiety. He drew the string; the arrow flew; the divided apple fell. Repeated peals announced. the joy of the spectators, and rebounded through the adjacent rocks. The hero ran to his child, caught him in his arms, and clasped him to his bosom. He gave way to the effusions of nature. Unable any longer to suppress the violence of his emotions, he turned to the governor, and, producing another arrow, exclaimed, "Had my boy fallen, this was destined for thee!"

At once a prey to disappointment, rage, and shame, Gesler commanded his soldiers again to seize the bold offender. The populace interposed in vain. In vain they resisted the guard. After a short conflict, Tell was mastered, and, in order to secure him against any attempts which might be made for his rescue, Gesler commanded him to be conveyed to Kusnach, a fortress on the opposite side of the lake. Fearing, however, that the unmerited rigor of his fate might excite a sentiment of compassion in the bosoms of those on whom he had imposed the execution of this harsh decree, the governor resolved to accompany him in person, and embarked with his attendants in the same boat. But scarcely were they out of the reach of the shore, when the clouds, which had been gathering.

N

round the summit of St. Gothard, and to which Gesler, blinded by excessive passion, had paid little attention, burst in a furious tempest. The violence of the storm precluded all possibility of returning, and the surrounding rocks, which rise almost perpendicularly from the level of the water, rendered all attempts to land impracticable. The watermen sunk under the labor of the oar, and, unable longer to contend against the fury of the winds, gave in, and commended themselves to Providence for protection.

In this fearful crisis, some one of the passengers, recollecting that Tell had the reputation of being a skilful pilot, suggested to the governor, as the only expedient that was left, to prevail upon him to take charge of the vessel, and to exert his power for their mutual salvation. Gesler caught with eagerness at the proposal. The prisoner was unbound and placed at the helm. For some time he struggled manfully against the storm, and took advantage of his local knowledge, to weather its fury; till, by degrees, he approached the bank, at a spot where the receding mountains leave a small promontory for man to save himself from the fury of the waves.

The courage of

the passengers now revived. They already thought themselves secure. But, as Tell approached the shore, having conducted the bark to the spot he wished, he boldly plunged into the flood. With one hand he seized the rock; with the other he pushed back the vessel, and left the affrighted tyrant, with his dismayed companions, in a situation little short of despair. The tempest, however, at length abated— with difficulty they gained the shore. But the gov

ernor had escaped the waves, only to meet another fate. Tell, who had escaped, met him on the road, a little beyond Brunnen, and, in an instant, an arrow laid him dead at his feet!

The news of this event ran like an electric spark among the friends of liberty, and threatened to precipitate the movement contemplated by Furst and his associates. But such was their prudence, that the ferment subsided, and stratagem was adopted rather than force. It was an important object to get possession of the strong castle of Rotzberg. Here dwelt a maiden beloved by a Swiss youth named Wolfgang. She was persuaded by her lover to admit him into her room at night, by means of a ladder let down from her window. He ascended, several of his companions followed, and the castle was taken without bloodshed.

Early on the following morning, a select party of the brave inhabitants of Unterwalden met Landenberg, as he was going from the castle of Sarnen to the parish church, to be present at the celebration of mass on new-year's day. They were loaded with presents, which, according to the usages of those times, were offered at this season to men in power. A troop of thirty more lay in ambush near the walls, ready to appear upon the first alarm. Delighted with the liberality of the offering, which had been purposely made more abundant than usual, the governor invited them into the castle, and ordered them to be welcomed with a hospitable glass. But no sooner had they gained admittance into the court, than the expected signal was given by a blast upon a horn. The men

without flew to the assistance of their friends. They seized upon the bridge and the magazine of arms before the little garrison was prepared to resist. Terrified by the suddenness of the attack, and ignorant of the numbers by whom they were assailed, they threw down their swords, and surrendered, upon the promise of their lives.

The insurgents, who had now risen on all sides, were everywhere equally fortunate. In the course of one day, the castles of Sarnen and Rotzberg, in Unterwalden, those of Schwanan and Kusnach, in Schweitz, and the newly-erected fortress near Altorf, in Uri, were taken and given up to the flames; and with them was every vestige of despotism effaced. History exhibits few events more extraordinary than this. Whether we consider the advantages which were obtained, the means by which the conquest was effected, or the humanity with which it was used, we shall find equal cause for admiration and wonder; at a moment when, flushed with victory and irritated by the most wanton acts of oppression, much might have been urged in defence of the insurgents, had they overstept the bounds of moderation, and given. way to those excesses which are the common attendants of recovered liberty. But all former animosities were buried in oblivion. The prisoners were treated with generosity, and, being conducted to the frontiers, were released, upon a solemn promise that they would never more pollute the land of freedom with their venal step. Indeed, except in the single instance of Gesler, who fell the victim of his own imprudence, not one drop of blood was shed!