“Eh, what?” said Gessler, his dark face growing more dark and angry still.  “Who dares to disobey my orders?”

“’Tis William Tell of Buerglen, my lord.”

“Tell?” said Gessler, turning in his saddle and looking at Tell as he stood among the people, holding little Walter by the hand.

There was silence for a few minutes while Gessler gazed at Tell in anger.

“I hear you are a great shot, Tell,” said Gessler at last, laughing scornfully, “they say you never miss.”

“That is quite true,” said little Walter eagerly, for he was very proud of his father’s shooting.  “He can hit an apple on a tree a hundred yards off.”

“Is that your boy?” said Gessler, looking at him with an ugly smile.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Have you other children?”

“Another boy, my lord.”

“You are very fond of your children, Tell?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Which of them do you love best?”

Tell hesitated.  He looked down at little Walter with his rosy cheeks and curly hair.  Then he thought of William at home with his pretty loving ways.  “I love them both alike, my lord,” he said at last.

“Ah,” said Gessler, and thought a minute.  “Well, Tell,” he said after a pause.  “I have heard so much of this boast of yours about hitting apples, that I should like to see something of it.  You shall shoot an apple off your boy’s head at a hundred yards’ distance.  That will be easier than shooting off a tree.”

“My lord,” said Tell, turning pale, “you do not mean that?  It is horrible.  I will do anything rather than that.”

“You will shoot an apple off your boy’s head,” repeated Gessler in a slow and scornful voice.  “I want to see your wonderful skill, and I command you to do it at once.  You have your crossbow there.  Do it.”

“I will die first,” said Tell.

“Very well,” said Gessler, “but you need not think in that way to save your boy.  He shall die with you.  Shoot, or die both of you.  And, mark you, Tell, see that you aim well, for if you miss you will pay for it with your life.”

Tell turned pale.  His voice trembled as he replied, “My lord, it was but thoughtlessness.  Forgive me this once, and I will always bow to the cap in future.”  Proud and brave although he was, Tell could not bear the thought that he might kill his own child.

“Have done with this delay,” said Gessler, growing yet more angry.  “You break the laws, and when, instead of punishing you as you deserve, I give you a chance of escape, you grumble and think yourself hardly used.  Were peasants ever more unruly and discontented?  Have done, I say.  Heinz, bring me an apple.”

The soldier hurried away.

“Bind the boy to that tree,” said Gessler, pointing to a tall lime-tree near by.

Two soldiers seized Walter and bound him fast to the tree.  He was not in the least afraid, but stood up against the trunk straight and quiet.  Then, when the apple was brought, Gessler rode up to him and, bending from the saddle, himself placed the apple upon his head.