The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-29

| glance at the pretect. with thig sec
 ond arrow. my lord. with this secont
 lord, had I struck my beloved son. And would not have missed you!" Gesier shrAnk back. "ha. Is 1t so l then? Your life I have pledged You will keep my word But. to be safe against your arrows henceforth. I will send you where neither sun nor moon shall ever shine on you again. Seize and bind him! Take him to my marge! This very night he shall so to Russ nachtI"
 You dare not. sir!" cried the pastor. That is against our treaties with the Emperor
 "5iiencsi" said Gesler. Rebels. rebels. you are rebels, all! This man take from among your band. You are all guilty with him. Who is wise will learn to become mutel"
 Unarmed as they were. the people pressed forward. overcome with rage. But the pike-men drew close about Gesler and his victim and drove the crowds back.
 But when the barge pushed away from shore with Tell lying bound in the stern. eyes full of hatred and in- vincible determination followed 1t from every crag along the lake. That night the men of Uri and Unterwalden gath cred in the castle Of the Freiher won AttinBhausen. He had sent for tn em to see him die. His breaking eyes famed when they told him that they were going to rise and cast off the fet- ters of the Austrian. And when Stauf- facher and Fuerst added that his nephew had defed Gesler, and was even then on his way to the castle to pledge himself to their cause. the old knight raised his grand white head and said. as one who sees visions.
 Now shall my dust rest in q free land! I see the kings and princes and nobles ride against you, bright with harness. to battle with a despised race of shepherds. l see you hold the passes and the defiles through many a glorious day of blood and deathge see the free peasant gather in his breast the sheaf of foeman's lances! I see you break their ranks the crown topples, and the banner Of freedom waves from every mountain of Swift zerlandI'
 He fell back. drew deep breath and died.
 Rudenz stepped into the hall at that moment. Throwing himself down at the dead mans side and holding his hand. he cried:
 Here I pledge myself to switzer- land! I have torn off all foreign bonds. A Swiss am and q Swiss I win TO. main. Oh. fellow countrymenl Forgive me for my passing error, Receive my oath and accept me as your brotherP
 We will" answered they. standing around the dead banner knight in sol- emn circle.
 They held council hastily and de- cided to walt no longer, but to send forth the word that the attack on the burgs should be made at once, since ulrich won Rudenz's name would bring them assistance from all the other great families of Switzerland.
 While they were debating a vast storm broke over the canton. The very mountains seemed to shake to their eternal bases as thundeFclap an- swered thunder. Through the passes swept such a wind that men could not face it, but had to lie prostrate hold ing to tree roots and rocks till the mighty breath of the tempest dimin- ished for a moment. The incessant flashes of lightning revealed a lake that tossed and whirled as If 1t were stirred to its profoundest and most mysterious depths. Waves rose. from abysses and spouted high toward the black sky Around each rock. under every mountain foot, tho water milIed itself into white froth, laundering with a voice that grew in mighty strength each minute till 1t outspoke the thunder and It's reverberating echoes among the crags.
 In that wild night. on that wild lake. a barge tossed helplessly. It's steers man appalled, and despairing. it's rowers themselves to terror. It was the craft of the prefect, Gesler. He himself. sat frightened amidships with der Harras Both men had abandoned hope, for every moment the water that poured over the sides weigh ed the vessel deeper and none could keep her head to escape the breaking waves.
 In that emergency one of the sail ors suggested that the only man who might handle the vessel was Tell. Gesler ordered his fetters taken off Tell took the steering oar and watched his opportunity. At the eastern shore of the lake, in dangerous place, we'll known to him, a great fiat rock jutted into the water Despite the darkness and the gale he knew the spot when the vessel came abreast of It. Swinging his oar he drove the craft close to 1t. seized his cross-bow which he'd been left lying near him, and with such a mighty leap as few living men could have compassed, he cleared the boat and reached the rock.
 As he struck the shore he gave the barge a great shove and drove 1t into he whirling water. Then he fled into the mountains. The storm passed as quickly as 1t had arisen. Before Tell mad made his way far from shore he was warned by the mountaineers who lelped him on his road that Gesler had