"I don't wish to seem to boast at all," said Arnold of Sewa, "but I think I had better be one of the three."

 

"I was thinking," said Werner Stauffacher, "that it would be a pity always to be chopping and changing. Why not choose the same three as were sent to Gessler?"

 

"I don't desire to be unpleasant at all," replied Arnold of Sewa, "but I must be forgiven for reminding the honourable² gentleman who has just spoken that he and his equally honourable friends did not meet with the best of success when they called upon the Governor."

 

"Well, and you didn't either!" snapped Arnold of Melchthal, whose finger still hurt him, and made him a little bad-tempered³.

 

"That," said Arnold of Sewa, "I put down entirely⁴ to the fact that you and your friends, by not exercising tact⁵, irritated the Governor, and made him unwilling⁶ to listen to anybody else. Nothing is more important in these affairs than tact. That's what you want--tact. But have it your own way. Don't mind me!"

 

And the citizens did not. They chose Werner Stauffacher, Arnold of Melchthal, and Walter Fürst, and, having drained their glasses, the three trudged⁷ up the steep hill which led to Tell's house.

 

It had been agreed that everyone should wait at the Glass and Glacier until the three spokesmen returned, in order that they might hear the result of their mission. Everybody was very anxious. A revolution without Tell would be quite impossible, and it was not unlikely that Tell might refuse to be their leader. The worst of a revolution is that, if it fails, the leader is always executed as an example to the rest. And many people object to being executed, however much it may set a good example to their friends. On the other hand, Tell was a brave man and a

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