Can Tell trust the word of his enemy? He must, if he is to obtain the release of several young boys whom Gessler is holding as slaves in a labour camp. Alone and unarmed he may be - but Tell has an ace up his sleeve.
Trapped on an island owned by Prince Erik, a man who enjoys hunting prey, Tell's careers appears to be at the end - but helps arrives from a most unexpected quarter, and the resistance leader finds a new ally.
When one of his men fails to return from a mission to Rinaldo, a rival resistance leader,Tell suspect treachery. Unknown to him, a bandit is in the area, under orders from Gessler, seeking to cast doubt on Tell's activities.
Maddelenna is being forcibly taken to Altdorf Castle as a bride for Gessler. Tell sees this as an opportunity to reach their enemy a lesson, but his wife Hedda is not so sure.
When faced with conflict between duty and conscience, Fritz, a young Austrian soldier, unexpectedly turns not to Gessler, but to William Tell for help - a move which places the resistance leader's life in great peril.
So anxious is he to read a letter from Judge Furst informing William Tell of the location of a large arms shipment. Gessler fails to realise that the missive is in the sole of his own boot. When finding it, the hapless Austrian really puts his foot into it.
When Tell investigates why two envoys disappeared while on their way to him to discuss a treaty of friendship, he uncovers a greater mystery - one that threatens to engulf his family and will ultimately test the loyalty of his followers.
By using a traitor planted in Tell's camp, Gessler plans to smash the resistance movement in one swoop. But even the best laid schemes are prone to failure - as the Landburgher soon discovers.
Two Swiss collaborators, arrested by Gessler for murdering Prince Karl, are given a chance to save their necks from the hangman's noose. They must discover Tell's hiding kill him.
A local monastery, run by Italian monks, is making a delicious brew, then donating the proceeds to founding a school for Swiss children. Never one to pass up an opportunity to swell his coffers, Gessler arrests the holy men.