They hurried quickly to the front upper deck, for they had long ago learned that this was the best place for sightseeing; and they knew that during the next few hours they would see some of the loveliest scenery in the whole world.
"I believe this will be the finest trip we have had yet," said Joe.
"I know it will be the finest one!" exclaimed Jack. "I should rather see the spot where William Tell shot the apple from his little boy's head, than any other spot in Switzerland."
"Oh, I shouldn't!" said Joe. "I should rather climb one of those great mountains all covered with snow, and take a walk on a real glacier."
"Well, some day perhaps we can do that, too," said Jack. "But I don't want to do it to-day. I want to hear the story which father is going to tell us, about how William Tell and his little boy helped to make Switzerland a free country."
"Oh, yes, father! Do tell us the story while we are sailing up the very lake where a part of it happened," said Joe.
"All right," said their father. "This is the story:
"More than six hundred years ago the people of Switzerland did not govern themselves, as they do now. A part of the people were governed by the King of Austria. Austria is a large country northeast of Switzerland, you know.
"Now the King of Austria could not live here and govern the people himself, so he sent one of his men to be their Governor. The name of the last Governor was Gessler.