MELCHTHAL, BAUMGARTEN, WINKELRIED, MEYER VON SARNEN BURKHART AM BUHEL, ARNOLD VON SEWA, KLAUS VON DER FLUE, and four other peasants, all armed.

MELCHTHAL (behind the scenes).

The mountain pass is open.  Follow me! 
I see the rock, and little cross upon it: 
This is the spot; here is the Rootli.

[They enter with torches.]

WINKELRIED.

Hark!

SEWA.

The coast is clear.

MEYER.

None of our comrades come? 
We are the first, we Unterwaldeners.

MELCH.

How far is’t i’ the night?

BAUMGARTEN.

The beacon watch
Upon the Selisberg has just called two.

[A bell is heard at a distance.]

MEYER.

Hush!  Hark!

BUHEL.

The forest chapel’s matin bell
Chimes clearly o’er the lake from Switzerland.

VON F.

The air is clear and bears the sound so far.

MELCH.

Go, you and you, and light some broken boughs,
Let’s bid them welcome with a cheerful blaze.

[Two peasants exeunt.]

SEWA.

The moon shines fair tonight.  Beneath its beams
The lake reposes, bright as burnish’d steel.

BUHEL.  They’ll have an easy passage.

WINK. (pointing to the lake).

Ha! look there! 
Do you see nothing?

MEYER.

Ay, indeed, I do! 
A rainbow in the middle of the night.

MELCH.

Formed by the bright reflection of the moon!

VON F.

A sign most strange and wonderful, indeed! 
Many there be who ne’er have seen the like.

SEWA.

’Tis doubled, see, a paler one above!

BAUM.

A boat is gliding yonder right beneath it.

MELCH.

That must be Werner Stauffacher!  I knew
The worthy patriot would not tarry long.

      [Goes with BAUMGARTEN toward the shore.]

MEYER.

The Uri men are like to be the last.

BUHEL.

They’re forced to take a winding circuit through
The mountains; for the Viceroy’s spies are out.

[In the meanwhile the two peasants have kindled a fire in the centre of the stage.] MELCHTHAL (on the shore).

Who’s there?  The word?

STAUFFACHER (from below).

Friends of the country.

[All retire up the stage, toward the party landing from the boat.  Enter STAUFFACHER, ITEL REDING, HANS AUF DER MAUER, JORG IM HOFE, CONRAD HUNN, ULRICH DER SCHMIDT, JOST VON WEILER, and three other peasants, armed.]

ALL.

Welcome!

[While the rest remain behind exchanging greetings, MELCHTHAL Comes forward with STAUFFACHER.]

MELCH.

Oh worthy Stauffacher, I’ve look’d but now
On him who could not look on me again;
I’ve laid my hands upon his rayless eyes,
And on their vacant orbits sworn a vow
Of vengeance, only to be cool’d in blood.