William Tell Told Again | Page 2

sort. They said they wanted to spend their money
on all kinds of other things. Gessler, on the other hand, wished to put a
tax on everything, and, being Governor, he did it. He made everyone
who owned a flock of sheep pay a certain sum of money to him; and if
the farmer sold his sheep and bought cows, he had to pay rather more
money to Gessler for the cows than he had paid for the sheep. Gessler
also taxed bread, and biscuits, and jam, and buns, and lemonade, and,
in fact, everything he could think of, till the people of Switzerland
determined to complain. They appointed Walter Fürst, who had red hair
and looked fierce; Werner Stauffacher, who had gray hair and was
always wondering how he ought to pronounce his name; and Arnold of
Melchthal, who had light-yellow hair and was supposed to know a
great deal about the law, to make the complaint. They called on the
Governor one lovely morning in April, and were shown into the Hall of
Audience.
"Well," said Gessler, "and what's the matter now?"
The other two pushed Walter Fürst forward because he looked fierce,

and they thought he might frighten the Governor.
Walter Fürst coughed.
"Well?" asked Gessler.
"Er--ahem!" said Walter Fürst.
"That's the way," whispered Werner; "give it him!"
"Er--ahem!" said Walter Fürst again; "the fact is, your Governorship--"
"It's a small point," interrupted Gessler, "but I'm generally called 'your
Excellency.' Yes?"
"The fact is, your Excellency, it seems to the people of Switzerland--"
"--Whom I represent," whispered Arnold of Melchthal.
"--Whom I represent, that things want changing."
"What things?" inquired Gessler.
"The taxes, your excellent Governorship."
"Change the taxes? Why, don't the people of Switzerland think there
are enough taxes?"
Arnold of Melchthal broke in hastily.
"They think there are many too many," he said. "What with the tax on
sheep, and the tax on cows, and the tax on bread, and the tax on tea,
and the tax--"
"I know, I know," Gessler interrupted; "I know all the taxes. Come to
the point. What about 'em?"
"Well, your Excellency, there are too many of them."

"Too many!"
"Yes. And we are not going to put up with it any longer!" shouted
Arnold of Melchthal.
Gessler leaned forward in his throne.
"Might I ask you to repeat that remark?" he said.
"We are not going to put up with it any longer!"
Gessler sat back again with an ugly smile.
"Oh," he said--"oh, indeed! You aren't, aren't you! Desire the Lord
High Executioner to step this way," he added to a soldier who stood
beside him.
The Lord High Executioner entered the presence. He was a
kind-looking old gentleman with white hair, and he wore a beautiful
black robe, tastefully decorated with death's-heads.
"Your Excellency sent for me?" he said.
"Just so," replied Gessler. "This gentleman here"--he pointed to Arnold
of Melchthal--"says he does not like taxes, and that he isn't going to put
up with them any longer."
"Tut-tut!" murmured the executioner.
"See what you can do for him."
"Certainly, your Excellency. Robert," he cried, "is the oil on the boil?"
"Just this minute boiled over," replied a voice from the other side of the
door.
"Then bring it in, and mind you don't spill any."
Enter Robert, in a suit of armour and a black mask, carrying a large

caldron, from which the steam rose in great clouds.
"Now, sir, if you please," said the executioner politely to Arnold of
Melchthal.
Arnold looked at the caldron.
"Why, it's hot," he said.
"Warmish," admitted the executioner.
"It's against the law to threaten a man with hot oil."
[Illustration: PLATE I]
"You may bring an action against me," said the executioner. "Now, sir,
if you please. We are wasting time. The forefinger of your left hand, if I
may trouble you. Thank you. I am obliged."
He took Arnold's left hand, and dipped the tip of the first finger into the
oil.
"Ow!" cried Arnold, jumping.
"Don't let him see he's hurting you," whispered Werner Stauffacher.
"Pretend you don't notice it."
Gessler leaned forward again.
"Have your views on taxes changed at all?" he asked. "Do you see my
point of view more clearly now?"
Arnold admitted that he thought that, after all, there might be
something to be said for it.
"That's right," said the Governor. "And the tax on sheep? You don't
object to that?"
"No."

"And the tax on cows?"
"I like it."
"And those on bread, and buns, and lemonade?"
"I enjoy them."
"Excellent. In fact, you're quite contented?"
"Quite."
"And you think the rest of the people are?"
"Oh, quite, quite!"
"And do you think the same?" he asked of Walter and Werner.
"Oh _yes_, your Excellency!" they cried.
"Then _that's_ all right," said Gessler. "I