—“I have saved many a vessel,” answered Tell, “in a more desperate situation than the present; and that which has succeeded with me ten times before, I trust, will not fail with me now.—As to what you say about favours, bestow them on those who ask them; I expect mercy from no one, save from Him under whose hand we all now tremble!”—
Tell was unbound, and the rudder committed to his care. William and Amabel still remained close by his side, while the rest of the ship’s company dispersed to their several stations.
Tell’s rudder seemed to command the tempest: he steered confidently through the foaming waves, and already the companions of his danger shouted with joy at the certainty of their escape.
—“And what will be the reward of our preserver?” asked one of the most compassionate among Gessler’s soldiers.
—“What should it be?” answered their leader angrily. “The most he can lay claim to is a speedy death without being previously tortured; or perhaps his sentence may be softened into that of eternal imprisonment.”—
Tell was silent, and cast a despairing look through the dark clouds of the storm towards the Only-one, from whom he had hopes of assistance!
—“Oh! that I had no one here to tremble for, except myself!” said Tell to the afflicted Amabel, who knelt beside him after a silence of some minutes—“how quickly should I be safe from the malice of my enemies!”—
—“And what then would you do?”—
—“The rocks are not lofty! One bold and lucky spring, and I were in safety!”—
—“Throw me into the waves, father!” cried the boy, “throw me into the waves, for I am a hindrance to you!”—