. It took nearly a year
to secure spears, swords, and battle-axes and distribute them among
the mountains. Finally this was done, and everything was ready.
All were waiting for a signal to rise.

[Illustration: TELL SHOOTS THE APPLE FROM HIS SON'S HEAD]

The story tells us that just at this time Gessler, the Austrian
governor, who was a cruel tyrant, hung a cap on a high pole in
the market-place in the village of Altorf, and forced everyone
who passed to bow before it. Tell accompanied by his little son,
happened to pass through the marketplace. He refused to bow before
the cap and was arrested. Gessler offered to release him if he
would shoot an apple from the head of his son. The governor hated
Tell and made this offer hoping that the mountaineer's hand would
tremble and that he would kill his own son. It is said that Tell
shot the apple from his son's head but that Gessler still refused
to release him. That night as Tell was being carried across the
lake to prison a storm came up. In the midst of the storm he sprang
from the boat to an over-hanging rock and made his escape. It is
said that he killed the tyrant. Some people do not believe this
story, but the Swiss do, and if you go to Lake Lucerne some day
they will show you the very rock upon which Tell stepped when he
sprang from the boat.

That night the signal fires were lighted on every mountain and
by the dawn of day the village of Altorf was filled with hardy
mountaineers, armed and ready to fight for their liberty. A battle
followed and the Austrians were defeated and driven from Altorf.
This victory was followed by others.

[Illustration: TELL'S LEAP]

A few years later, the duke himself came with a large army, determined
to conquer the mountaineers. He had to march through a narrow pass,
with mountains rising abruptly on either side. The Swiss were expecting
him and hid along the heights above the pass, as soon as the Austrians
appeared in the pass, rocks and trunks of trees were hurled down
upon them. Many were killed and wounded. Their army was defeated,
and the duke was forced to recognize the independence of the Forest
Cantons.

This was the beginning of the Republic of Switzerland. In time five
other cantons joined them in a compact for liberty.

II

About seventy years later the Austrians made another attempt to
conquer the patriots. They collected a splendid army and marched
into the mountains. The Swiss at once armed themselves and met
t