aid Hedwig. "And you will be careful, won't
you?" she added, turning to Tell.

"Yes, I will," he replied, and Walter, throwing his arms round her
neck, said, "It's all right, mother, I will take care of father." Then
they set off merrily together.

It was a great thing to go to Altorf with father, and Walter was
so happy that he chattered all the way, asking questions about
everything.

"How far can you shoot, father?"

"Oh, a good long way."

"As high as the sun?" asked Walter, looking up at it.

"Oh dear, no, not nearly so high as that."

"Well, how high? As high as the snow-mountains?"

"Oh no."

"Why is there always snow on the mountains, father?" asked Walter,
thinking of something else. And so he went on, asking questions
about one thing after another, until his father was quite tired of
answering.

Walter was chattering so much that Tell forgot all about the hat upon
the pole, and, instead of going round by another way to avoid it, as
he had meant to do, he went straight through the market-place to reach
Walter Fuerst's house.

"Father, look," said Walter, "look, how funny! there is a hat stuck up
on a pole. What is it for?"

"Don't look, Walter," said Tell, "the hat has nothing to do with us,
don't look at it." And taking Walter by the hand, he led him hurriedly
away.

But it was too late. The soldier, who stood beside the pole to guard
it and see that people bowed in passing, pointed his spear at Tell and
bade him stop. "Stand, in the Emperor's name," he cried.

"Let be, friend," said Tell, "let me past."

"Not till you obey the Emperor's command. Not till you bow to the
hat."

"It is no command of the Emperor," said Tell. "It is Gessler's folly
and tyranny. Let me go."

"Nay, but you must not speak of my lord the governor in such terms.
And past you shall not go until you bow to the cap. And, if you bow
not, to prison I will lead you. Such is my lord's command."

"Why should I bow to a cap?" said Tell, his voice shaking with rage.
"Were the Emperor himself here, then would I bend the knee and bow my
head to him with all reverence. But to a hat! Never!" and he tried
to force his way past Heinz the soldier. But Heinz would not let him
pass, and kept his spear pointed at Tell.

Hearing loud and angry voices, many people gathered to see what the
cause might be. Soon there was quite a crowd around the two. Every one
talked at once, and the noise and confusion were great. Heinz tried
to t