Larry Everson, age 13, of Fargo, N.D., for his question:

WHO WAS WILLIAM TELL?

William Tell was a legendary Swiss patriot of the 14th century. According to tradition, Tell, after refusing to recognize Gessler, the despotic Austrian governor of his canton, Uri, was ordered by Gessler to shoot an arrow through an apple set upon the head of Tells young son.

Tell accomplished the feat, but stated that it he had accidentally killed his son, he would have killed Gessler himself.

Tell was then imprisoned. But he didn't stay locked up for long. He escaped and slew the governor in an ambush.

The slaying is said to have sparked the uprising of the Swiss against their Austrian rulers, resulting in the unification and independence of the Swiss nation.

The first written version of the legend of William Tell appeared in a 15th century ballad. It later served as the basis for the famous drama "William Tell" (1804) by the German playwright Friedrich von Schiller and for the opera "Guillaume Tell" (1829) by the Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini.