William Tell’s home was in the mountains. He was a famous archer. There was no one in the kingdom who could hit a target as perfectly as him.
One day, he visited the city with his son. There he saw a tall pole which had a cap on it. The people told him that the cap was of Gessler who was the cruel ruler of the place. They also told him that Gessler had given orders that every man should bow down before the pole.
But William Tell refused to bow. He stood straight in front of the pole with folded arms and laughed. ‘I will not bow down even before Gessler himself,’ said he.
When Gessler heard of this, he was very angry. He was afraid that other men would also disobey him. So he made up his mind to punish William Tell.
The Story of William Tell
Gessler knew of William’s skill as a hunter. So he thought of a cruel plan.
He ordered that Tell’s little boy should be made to stand with an apple on his head. He then commanded Tell to shoot the apple with one of his arrows.
Tell begged the cruel ruler to let his boy go, ‘Please don’t take this test of my skill. What if the boy moves? What if my hand Trembles?’
‘Say no more,’ said Gessler. You must hit the apple with your one arrow. If you fail, my soldiers shall kill the boy before your eyes.’
Without another word, Tell fitted the arrow to his bow. He took aim, and let it fly. The boy stood firm and still. He was not afraid, for he had faith in his father’s skill.
The arrow whistled through the air. It struck the apple in the centre and carried it away. People who saw it shouted with joy.
As Tell was turning away from the place, an arrow dropped to the ground. The arrow dropped to the ground. the arrow had been hidden under his coat.
‘Fellow!’ cried Gessler, ‘Why did you have this second arrow?
‘Tyrant!’ was William’s proud answer, ‘This arrow was to kill you if I had hurt my child.’
—- A Swiss folk tale