‘ 
2792. the traveller. No. 328 
Walter Furst of-Altorff, Warnier Stauffacher of 
‘Schweitz, and Ernest du Melchthal of Underwald. 
“These three men, of determined intrepidity, and 
‘much -respected in the different districts to which 
‘they belonged, having privately communicated their 
sentiments to each other, met together, in summer 
4307, in a small meadow called Grutia, in the dis- 
‘trict of Uri, where they concerted the plan of a ge- 
neral insurrection of the three cantons, which fhould 
take place en the first day of January 1308; and 
-each retired to their several districts, to communicate 
‘the plan, in confidence, to such as they could trust, and 
_ -prepare-matters for the great.enterprise intended. 
In the mean while, William Tell, a young maa 
of great firmnefs of mind, regardlefs of the insolent 
order of Gesler, pafsed the pike, without paying 
obeisance to the ridiculous emblem of authority on 
the top of it. Gesler, informed.of this piece of disres~ 
spect, condemned Tell, by way of punifhment, tocleave, 
with an arrow, an apple placed on the head of his son, 
standing at a considerable distance “from him, in the 
market place now beforeme. Tell, though an expert 
archer, terrified at the danger his son would run in 
such a situation, rather chose to submit to the pu- 
‘nifhment of death, himself, than attempt it. But 
‘Gesler told him, that if he refuséd to do it, both. his 
son and himself fhould be hanged together. In this 
extremity, Tell was compelled to try his fkill. He 
was so fortunate as to split the apple without hur- 
ting his son. The thouts of the people, who rejuiced 
at this good fortune, served only to irritate Gesler 
#he more. He observed that Tell had another ar. 
wow, and afked what use he intended to make of 
VOL. Xll, a5 T 
