On the morning of the 17th, the party were sitting at breakfast, when
Giulia suddenly sprang to her feet.
"Listen!" she exclaimed.
Her father and Francis looked at her in surprise, but instinctively
listened for whatever sound she could have heard. Then a deep, solemn
sound boomed through the air.
"It is the bell of the Campanile tolling," the merchant exclaimed. "It
is the signal for all citizens to take up arms. Some terrible news has
arrived."
Hastily putting on his armour, the merchant started to Saint Mark's,
accompanied by Francis, who put on a steel cap, which he preferred to
the heavy helmet, and a breastplate. A crowd of citizens were pursuing
the same direction. The numbers thickened as they approached the
Piazza, which they found on their arrival to be already thronged with
people, who were densely packed in front of the palace, awaiting an
explanation of the summons.
There was a look of deep anxiety on every face, for all felt that the
news must be bad, indeed, which could have necessitated such a call.
Presently the doge, accompanied by the council, appeared in the
balcony. A complete silence fell upon the multitude, the bell ceased
tolling, and not the slightest sound disturbed the stillness. One of
the councillors stepped to the front, for the doge, Contarini, was now
seventy-two years old, and his voice could hardly have been heard over
so wide an area.
"Citizens of the republic, gather, I pray you, all your fortitude and
constancy, to hear the news which I have to tell. It is bad news; but
there is no reason for repining, still less for despair. If Venice has
but confidence in herself, such as she has throughout her history
shown, when danger seemed imminent, be assured that we shall weather
this storm, as we have done all that have preceded it. Chioggia has
fallen!"
An exclamation of pain and grief went up from the crowd. The speaker
held up his hand for silence.
"Chioggia, contrary to our hopes and expectations, has fallen; but we
are proud to say, it has fallen from no lack of bravery on the part of
its defenders. As you know, for six days the brave podesta, Emo, and
his troops have repulsed every attack; but yesterday an unforeseen
accident occurred. While our soldiers were holding their own, as usual,
a Genoese fire ship exploded in the canal behind them. The idea,
unfortunately, seized the troops that the bridge was on fire. The
Genoese shouted 'The bridge is in flames!' and pressed onward, and our
soldiers fell back, in some confusion, towards the bridge. Here Emo,
with four brave companions, made a noble stand, and for a time checked
the advance of the foe; but he was driven back. There was no time to
destroy the communication behind him. The enemy pressed on, and,
mingled with our retreating soldiers, entered the town. And so Chioggia
was taken. Our loss in killed is said to be eight hundred and sixty
men; while the rest of the garrison--four thousand in number--were
taken prisoners."
A loud cry of anguish burst from the crowd. Numbers of those present
had relatives and friends among the garrison of Chioggia; and to all,
the news of this terrible disaster was a profound blow. Venice was open
now to invasion. In a few hours, the enemy might appear in her canals.
The council and the nobles endeavoured to dispel the feeling of
despair. While some harangued the people from the balconies, others
went down and mingled with the crowd, assuring them that all was not
yet lost, that already messengers had been despatched to Doria, and the
Lord of Padua, asking for terms of peace; and even should these be
refused, Venice might yet defend herself until Zeno arrived, with his
fleet, to their rescue. The doge himself received deputations of the
citizens, and, by his calmness and serenity, did much to allay the
first feeling of terror and dismay; and in a few hours the city
recovered its wonted aspect of tranquillity.
The next morning the answer to the overtures was received. The Lord of
Padua, who was doubtless beginning to feel some misgiving as to the
final issue of the struggle, declared that he himself was not unwilling
to treat upon certain terms, but that the decision must rest in the
hands of his colleague. Doria, believing that Venice was now in his
grasp, rejected the idea of terms with scorn.
"By God's faith, my lords of Venice," he cried, "ye shall have no peace
from the Lord of Padua, nor from our commune of Genoa, until I have put
a bit in the mouths of the horses of your evangelist of Saint Mark.
When they have been bridled you shall then, in sooth, have a good
peace; and this is our purpose and that of our commune!
"As for these captives, my brethren," he said, pointing to some Genoese
prisoners of rank, whom the Venetians had sent with their embassy, in
hopes of conciliating the Genoese, "take them back. I want them not;
for in a few days I am coming to release, from your prisons, them and
the rest."
As soon as the message was received, the bell summoned the popular
assembly together, and, in the name of the doge, Pietro Mocenigo
described to them the terrible nature of the peril that threatened
them, told them that, after the insolent reply of Doria, there was now
no hope save in their own exertions, and invited all to rally round the
national standard, for the protection of their hearths and homes. The
reply of the assembly was unanimous; and shouts were raised:
"Let us arm ourselves! Let us equip and man what galleys are in the
arsenal! Let us sally out to the combat! It is better to die in the
defence of our country, than to perish here from want."
A universal conscription was at once ordered, new taxes were imposed,
and the salaries of the magistrates and civil functionaries suspended.
All business came to a standstill, and property fell to a fourth of its
former value. The imposts were not found adequate to produce the sums
required, and a new loan, at five per cent, was decreed. All subscribed
to the utmost of their ability, raising the enormous sum of 6,294,040
lire. A new captain general was elected, and the government nominated
Taddeo Giustiniani to the post.
The fortification of the city, with earthworks, was commenced. Lines of
defence were drawn from Lido to San Spirito, and two wooden towers
constructed at the former point, to guard the pass of San Nicolo.
Events succeeded each other with the greatest rapidity, and all these
matters were settled within thirty-six hours of the fall of Chioggia.
In all respects the people, at first, yielded implicit obedience to the
order of the council. They enrolled themselves for service. They
subscribed to the loan. They laboured at the outworks. But from the
moment the appointment of Taddeo Giustiniani was announced, they grew
sullen. It was not that they objected to the new captain general, who
was a popular nobleman, but every man felt that something more than
this was required, in such an emergency, and that the best man that
Venice could produce should be at the helm.
The sailors of the port were the first to move in the matter, and
shouts for Vettore Pisani were heard in the streets. Others took up the
cry, and soon a large multitude assembled in the Piazza, and with
menacing shouts, demanded that Pisani should be freed and appointed. So
serious did the tumult become, that the council were summoned in haste.
Pisani--so popular with the lower class that they called him their
father--was viewed with corresponding dislike and distrust by the
nobles, who were at once jealous of his fame and superiority, and were
alarmed at a popularity which could have made him, had he chosen it,
the master of the state.
It was not, therefore, until after some hours of stormy debate, that
they decided to give in to the wishes of the crowd, which was
continually growing larger and more threatening; and it was late in the
evening before the senators deputed by the council, followed by the
exulting populace, hurried to the prison to apprise Pisani that he was
free, and that the doge and senate were expecting him. Pisani heard the
message without emotion, and placidly replied that he should prefer to
pass the night where he was in reflection, and would wait on the
seignory in the morning.
At daybreak on Friday, the 19th of August, the senatorial delegates and
the people, accompanied by the other officers who had been involved in
the disgrace of Pisani, and who had now been freed, reappeared at the
gates of the prison. These were immediately opened, and Pisani
appeared, with his usual expression of cheerfulness and good humour on
his face. He was at once lifted on to the shoulders of some sailors,
and borne in triumph to the palace, amid the deafening cheers of the
populace. On the staircase he was met by the doge and senators, who
saluted him cordially. Mass was heard in the chapel, and Pisani and the
council then set to business, and were for some time closeted together.
The crowd waited outside the building, continuing to shout, and when
Pisani issued out from the palace, he was seized and carried in triumph
to his house in San Fantino. As he was passing the Campanile of Saint
Mark, his old pilot, Marino Corbaro, a remarkably able seaman, but a
perpetual grumbler against those in authority, met him, and elbowing
his way through the crowd, drew close to him, loudly shouting at the
same time:
"Now is the time, admiral, for revenging yourself, by seizing the
dictatorship of this city. Behold, all are at your service. All are
willing, at this very instant, to proclaim you prince, if you choose."
The loyalty of Pisani's nature was so affronted by this offer, that, in
a fury of rage, he leaned forward and struck Corbaro a heavy blow with
his fist, and then raising his voice shouted to those about him:
"Let none who wish me well say, 'Viva Pisani!' but, 'Viva San Marco!'"
And the populace then shouted, "Viva San Marco and our Father Pisani!"
No sooner had Pisani reached his house than the news was bruited about,
that the admiral had been merely appointed governor of Lido, and that
Giustiniani remained in command of the navy. The people were furious;
and a deputation of 600 waited upon Pisani and said:
"We are yours. Command us as you will."
Pisani told them that it was for the republic, and not for him, to
command their services. The deputation then went to the council, and
declared, in the name of fifty thousand Venetians, that not a man would
embark on the galleys until Pisani received his command, as captain
general of all the forces of the republic, by land and sea. The Council
of Ten, finding it impossible to resist the popular demand, and
terrified at the idea of the tumult that a refusal would arouse, at
last agreed to their request.
Fortunately for the republic, the four days which elapsed between the
fall of Chioggia, and the appointment of Pisani to the supreme command,
had not been utilized by the enemy. Carrara and Doria had always been
at variance as to their plans of operations, and, as usual, they
differed now. The Lord of Padua urged the necessity for following up
their success by an instant attack upon Venice, while Doria insisted
upon carrying out his original plan, and trusting as much to starvation
as to military operations. He, however, gradually pushed forward two
outposts, at Poreja and Malamocco, and on the latter island, at a
distance of three miles from Venice, he erected a battery, many of
whose shot fell at San Spirito.
Francis had borne his share in the events which had led to the
installation of Pisani in the supreme command. He had at first
instigated the sailors of Polani to raise a cry in the streets for the
restoration of the admiral, and had gone about with two or three of his
friends, mingling with knots of persons, and urging that the only hope
of the republic lay in the energy and talent of Pisani. Even Matteo had
joined him, although Taddeo Giustiniani was his own uncle. But, as the
lad said, "what matters it about relationship now? What will become of
relationship, if the Genoese and Paduans land here, raze the city to
the ground, and scatter us over the face of the earth? No. When it
comes to a question of ordinary command, of course I should go with my
family; but when Venice is in danger, and only one man can save her, I
should vote for him, whoever the other may be."
Polani had also exerted the great influence he possessed among the
commercial classes, and had aided the efforts of Francis, by giving
leave to the sailors of all his ships in port to go on shore. A few
hours after Pisani's release the merchant, accompanied by Francis,
called upon him.
"Welcome, my friends," he said heartily.
"Well, you see, Messer Hammond, that I was a true prophet, and that I
have had my share of the dungeon. However, we need not talk of that
now. I am up to my eyes in business."
"I have no doubt of that, admiral," Polani said. "I have called to
offer every ship I have in the harbour, for the defence of the city. I
myself will continue to pay their crews, as at present. Use the vessels
as you like. Make fire ships of them if you will. I can afford the
loss."
"Thanks, my friend," the admiral said. "We shall find a use for them,
never fear.
"As for you, Messer Hammond, even in my prison I heard of your gallant
feat, in recapturing the Pluto and three other ships from the Genoese,
and thus retrieving, to some extent, the losses of Pola. I hope to wipe
off the rest of the score before long. I shall find a command for you,
in a day or two. Age and rank go for nothing now. I am going to put the
best men in the best position.
"I have just appointed that old rascal, Corbaro, vice admiral of the
Lido. He is a grumbling old scoundrel, and would have had me get up a
revolution today, for which I had to knock him down; but he is one of
the best sailors Venice ever turned out, and just the man for the
place."
"I would rather act as a general aide-de-camp to you, admiral, than
have a separate command, if you will allow me," Francis said. "I am
still too young to command, and should be thwarted by rivalry and
jealousies. I would, therefore, far rather act under your immediate
orders, if you will allow me."
"So be it, then, lad. Come to me tomorrow, and I have no doubt I shall
have plenty for you to do. At present, I cannot say what course I may
adopt, for in truth, I don't know what position I shall hold. The
people do not seem content with my having only the government of Lido;
but for myself, I care nothing whether I hold that command, or that of
captain general. It is all one to me, so that I can serve the republic.
And Giustiniani is an able man, and will no doubt do his business well.
"You do not think so, young man?" he broke off, when Francis shook his
head.
"I do not, indeed, sir. He has erected two wooden towers at the mouth
of the Lido, which the first stone from a Genoese ballista would knock
to splinters; and has put up a fence to San Spirito, which a Genoese
soldier in full armour could jump over."
"Well, we shall see, Messer Hammond," the admiral said, smiling. "I
fear you have one bad quality among your many good ones, and that is
that you are a partisan. But go along now. I have no more time to spare
to you."
No sooner had Pisani obtained the supreme command, than he set to work
in earnest to provide for the safety of the city, the reorganization of
the navy, and the conversion of the new levies into soldiers and
sailors. The hulls of forty galleys, which were lying in the arsenals,
were taken in hand, and two-thirds of them were equipped and ready for
sea in three days.
The population was full of ardour and enthusiasm, and crowded to the
offices to register their names for service. The women brought their
jewels, to be melted down into money; and all vied with each other in
zeal.
Pisani's first task, after seeing the galleys put in hand, was to
examine the defences Giustiniani had erected. He at once pronounced the
two wooden towers--of which Francis had spoken so disrespectfully--to
be utterly useless, and ordered two tall towers, of solid masonry, to
be erected in their stead.
Giustiniani was indignant at this condemnation of his work; and he and
his friends so worked upon the minds of those who were to carry out the
work, that they laid down their tools, and refused to embark upon such
useless operations. The news was brought to Pisani by one of his
friends, and, starting in his gondola, he was soon upon the spot.
He wasted no time in remonstrating with the workmen on their conduct,
but, seizing a trowel, lifted a heavy stone into its place, shouting:
"Let him who loves Saint Mark follow my example!"
The success of the appeal was instantaneous. The workmen grasped their
tools. A host of volunteers seized the stones and carried them to their
places. When they were exhausted, fresh workmen took their places, and
in the incredibly short time of four days, the two castles were
finished.
The workmen were next set to level the paling and earthwork, from Lido
to San Spirito, and in the course of a fortnight the lofty and massive
stone walls were erected. By this time, something like a fleet was at
Pisani's disposal. In spite of the conduct of Taddeo Giustiniani,
Pisani, with his usual magnanimity, gave him the command of three large
ships, mounting the heaviest guns in the arsenal. The light boats were
under the command of Giovanni Barberigo. Federigo Cornaro was stationed
with a force of galleys at San Spirito. Nicholo Gallieano was charged
with the defence of the Lazaretto, San Clemente, Santa Elena, and the
neighbourhood; while on the strand between Lido and Malamocco, behind
the main wall, were the mercenaries, eight thousand strong, under
Jacopo Cavalli. Heavy booms were placed across all the canals by which
it was likely that the enemy's fleet might advance.
Francis found his office, under the energetic admiral, no sinecure. He
was kept constantly moving from one point to the other, to see that all
was going on well, and to report the progress made. The work never
ceased, night or day, and for the first week neither Francis, nor his
commander, ever went to bed, contenting themselves with such chance
sleep as they could snatch.
Having wasted eight precious days, the enemy, on the 24th of August,
advanced to the attack. A Genoese force, under Doria's brother, landed
upon San Nicolo; while the Paduans attacked San Spirito and Santa
Marta. They found the besieged in readiness. Directly the alarm was
given, the Venetians flocked to the threatened points, and repulsed the
enemy with slaughter.
The latter then attempted to make a junction of their forces, but
Cornaro with his galleys occupied the canal, drove back the boats in
which they intended to cross, and defeated the attempt. Doria had felt
certain that the movement, which was attempted under cover of night,
would succeed, and his disappointment was extreme.
The Lord of Padua was so disgusted that he withdrew his troops to the
mainland. Doria remained before Venice until the early part of October,
but without making another attack. Indeed, the defences had long before
become so formidable, that attack was well-nigh hopeless. At the end of
that time he destroyed all his works and fell back upon Chioggia, and
determined to wait there until Venice was starved into surrender.
The suffering in the city was intense. It was cut off from all access
to the mainland behind, but occasionally a ship, laden with provisions
from Egypt or Syria, managed to evade the Genoese galleys. These
precarious supplies, however, availed but little for the wants of the
starving city, eked out though they were by the exertions of the
sailors, who occasionally sailed across the lagoon, landed on the
mainland, and cut off the supplies sent from Padua and elsewhere to the
Genoese camp.
The price of provisions was so enormous, that the bulk of the people
were famishing, and even in the houses of the wealthy the pressure was
great. The nobility, however, did their utmost for their starving
countrymen, and the words of Pietro Mocenigo, speaking in the name of
the doge to the popular assembly, were literally carried into effect.
"Let all," he said, "who are pressed by hunger, go to the dwellings of
the patricians. There you will find friends and brothers, who will
divide with you their last crust."
So desperate, indeed, did the position become, that a motion was made
by some members of the council for emigrating from the lagoons, and
founding a new home in Candia or Negropont; but this proposal was at
once negatived, and the Venetians declared that, sooner than abandon
their city, they would bury themselves under her ruins.
So October and November passed. Carlo Zeno had not yet arrived, but by
some letters which had been captured with a convoy of provisions, it
was learned that he had been achieving the most triumphant success, had
swept the seas from Genoa to Constantinople, had captured a Genoese
galleon valued at three hundred thousand ducats, and was at Candia.
This intelligence revived the hopes of Venice, and on the 16th of
November Luigi Moroceni was despatched to order him, in the name of the
government, peremptorily to hasten to the rescue of Venice. Almost at
the same time, Giovanni Barberigo, with his light craft, surprised and
captured three of the enemy's vessels, killing many of the sailors, and
taking a hundred and fifty prisoners. The success was not in itself
important, but it raised the hopes of the Venetians, as being the first
time they had taken the offensive. Pisani himself had endeavoured to
reconnoitre the position of the enemy, but had each time been sharply
repulsed, losing ten boats and thirty men upon one occasion, when the
doge's nephew, Antonio Gradenigo, was also killed by the enemy; but in
spite of this, he advised government to make a great effort to recover
Chioggia.
He admitted that the chances of failure were great. Still, he
maintained that success was possible, and it was better that the
Venetians should die fighting than by hunger.
As the result of his expeditions, he had found that Doria had at least
thirty thousand men, fifty great ships, and from seven to eight hundred
light craft. Moreover his troops were in high spirits, well fed, and
well cared for, and should therefore be, man to man, more than a match
for the starving soldiers of Venice. Nevertheless, there was a
possibility of success, as Zeno would doubtless arrive by the time the
siege had fairly commenced.
After much debate, the council determined that the undertaking should
be attempted. To stir the people to the utmost exertion, the senate, on
the 1st of December, published a decree that the thirty plebeians, who
should most liberally meet the urgent necessities of the state by the
proffer of their persons or estates, should, after peace was made, be
raised to the rank of nobility, and summoned to the great council; that
thirty-five thousand ducats of gold should be distributed annually
among those who were not elected, and their heirs, forever; that any
foreign merchant, who should display peculiar zeal for the cause of the
republic, should be admitted to the full privileges of citizenship; and
that, on the other hand, such Venetians as might endeavour to elude a
participation in the common burdens, and hardships, should be held by
so doing to have forfeited all their civil rights.
Seventy-five candidates came forward. Some offered money, some personal
service or the service of their sons and relatives; some presented
galleys and offered to pay their crews. Immense efforts were made, and
by the 21st of December sixty ships, four hundred boats of all sizes,
and thirty-four war galleys were equipped. The doge, although just
seventy-three years old, signified his wish to assume the supreme
command of the expedition, Pisani acting as his lieutenant and admiral.
During the long weeks the siege continued, Francis saw little of the
Polanis, his duties keeping him constantly near Pisani, with whom he
took such meals as the time would afford, sleeping in his house, in
readiness for instant service. Maria had returned to her father's
house, for her husband was in command of the outpost nearest to the
enemy, and was therefore constantly away from home. Maria's spirits
were higher than ever. She made light of the hardships in the way of
food, bantered Francis when he came on his business engagements, and
affected to treat him with extreme respect, as the trusted lieutenant
of Pisani. Giulia, too, kept up her spirits, and no one would have
thought, listening to the lively talk of the two girls with their
father and Francis, that Venice was besieged by an overwhelming force,
and reduced to the direst straits by hunger.
The greater part of Polani's ships were now in the service of the
state. Those which remained, were constantly engaged in running across
to the Dalmatian coast, and bringing in cargoes of provisions through
the cordon of the Genoese galleys.
The light gondola which, after being repaired, had been lying for two
years under cover in Messer Polani's yard, had again been made useful.
Giuseppi had returned to his old work, and he and another powerful
oarsman made the light boat fly through the water, as Francis carried
the orders of the admiral to the various posts. He had also been in it
upon several of the reconnoitring expeditions, in the canals leading to
Chioggia, and although hotly chased he had, on each occasion, left his
pursuers behind. The evening before the expedition was to start Pisani
said to him:
"I think you have brought me more news, with that fast little craft of
yours, than I have been able to obtain even at the cost of some hard
fighting, and a good many lives. I wish that you would make an
excursion for me tonight, and find out, if you can, whether the enemy
have moved their position since the last time I reconnoitred them. I
particularly wish to learn if they have strong forces near the outlets
of the channels of Chioggia, and Brondolo, and the Canal of Lombardy.
You know my plans, and with such a host of recruits as I shall have
with me, it is all important that there should be no failure at first.
Veterans can stand defeat, but a reverse is fatal to young troops.
Heaven knows, they will have enough to bear, with wet, cold, exposure,
and hunger, and success will be necessary to keep up their spirits. Do
not push your adventure too far. Run no risk if you can help it. I
would not, for much, that harm befell you."
Francis at once accepted the commission, and left the admiral in order
to make his preparations.
"Giuseppi," he said, as he took his place in the boat, "I want you to
find for me, for service tonight, a gondolier who is a native of
Chioggia, and who knows every foot of the country round, and every
winding of the canals. He must be intelligent and brave, for the risk
will be no slight one."
"I think I know such a man, Messer Francisco; but if he happens to be
away, there will be no difficulty in finding another, for there are
many fishermen here who escaped before the Genoese captured Chioggia."
"When will you see him?"
"As soon as you have landed me at Messer Polani's."
"Go and fetch him, Giuseppi; and if you can find one or two old
fishermen of Chioggia, bring them also with you. I want to gain as much
information as possible regarding the country."
"Is it true that the fleet starts tomorrow, Francisco?" Maria asked as
he entered. "Everyone says so."
"It is quite true. There will be no further change. The orders have
been all issued, and you may rely upon it that we are going to sea."
"And when will you return?"
"That's another matter altogether," Francis laughed. "It may be a week,
it may be three months."
"But I thought we were going to fight the Genoese galleys. It does not
seem to me that a week is wanted to do that. A day to go to Chioggia, a
day to fight, and a day to return. What can you want more than that
for?"
"I do not think that we are going to fight the Genoese galleys,"
Francis answered. "Certainly we shall not do so if we can help it. They
are vastly stronger than we are; but I do not know that we need fear
them for all that."
"What do you mean, Francisco? You do not mean to fight--they are vastly
stronger than you are--and yet you do not fear them. You are not given
to speak in riddles; but you have puzzled me this time."
"Well, I will explain myself a little," Francis said; "but you must
remember that it is a secret, and not to be whispered to anyone."
"That is right," Maria said. "I love a secret, especially a state
secret.
"Giulia, come and sit quite close, so that he can whisper it into our
ears, and even the walls shall not hear it.
"Now, sir, explain yourself!"
"I will explain it without telling you," Francis said. "Have you not
gone to see African lions, who were very much stronger and fiercer than
yourself, and yet you did not fear them?"
"Because they have been in cages," Maria said. "But what has that to do
with it?"
"It explains the whole matter," Francis said. "We do not mean to fight
the Genoese fleet, if we can help it; but we are going to try to put
them in a cage, and then we shall not be afraid of them."
"Do not trifle with us, sir," Maria said sternly. "How can you put
Genoese galleys in a cage?"
"We cannot put them in a cage, but we can cage them up," Francis said.
"Pisani's intention is, if possible, to close all the entrances to the
canals round Chioggia. Thus, not only will the Genoese galleys be
unable to sally out to attack us, but the whole of the Genoese army
will be cooped up, and we shall then do to them what they have been
doing to us, namely, starve them out!"
"Capital, capital!" Maria said, clapping her hands. "Your Pisani is a
grand man, Francisco. And if he can do this for us, there is nothing
which we would not do to show our gratitude. But you won't find it
easy; besides, in the game of starving out, are we likely to win? The
contest will not be even, for they start on it full men and strong,
while our people are half starved already."
"I do not regard success as certain," Francis replied; "and Pisani
himself acknowledges the chances are very great against us. Still, it
is possible; and as nothing else seems possible, we are going to
attempt it."
Polani looked grave, when he heard of the mission which Francis was
going to undertake. Giulia's bright colour fled at once, and Maria said
angrily:
"You have no right to be always running into danger, Francisco. You are
not a Venetian, and there is no reason why you should be always running
risks greater than those which most Venetians are likely to encounter.
You ought to think of us who care for you, if you don't choose to think
of yourself."
"I did not volunteer for the service," Francis said. "I was asked by
the admiral to undertake it, and even had I wished it, I could hardly
have refused. The admiral selected me, not from any merit on my part,
but because he knows that my boat is one of the fastest on the lagoons,
and that I can easily run away from any of the Genoese rowboats. He
particularly ordered me to run no unnecessary risks."
"That is all very well," Maria said; "but you know very well that you
will run risks, and put yourself in the way of danger, if there is a
chance of doing so.
"You should tell him not to go, father!"
"I cannot do that, Maria; for the service he has undertaken is a very
important one to Venice. Everything depends upon the success of
Pisani's attempt, and undertaken, as it is, against great odds, it is
of the utmost importance that there should be no mistake as to the
position of the enemy. Whether Francis was wise or not, in accepting
Pisani's offer that he should act as his aide-de-camp, may be doubted;
but now that he has undertaken it, he must carry out his orders,
especially as it is now too late to make other arrangements, did he
draw back.
"If you will come into my room, Francisco, I will give you a chart of
the passages around Chioggia. You can study that, and you will then the
better understand the information you may receive, from the men you are
expecting."
Half an hour later Giuseppi arrived with the gondolier he had spoken
of, and two old fishermen, and from their explanations, and a study of
the map, Francis gained an exact idea of the localities. From his
previous expeditions he had learned where the Genoese were generally
posted, and something of the strength of the forces at the various
points.
In truth, they kept but a careless watch. Feeling convinced that the
Venetians possessed no forces capable of attacking him, and that their
surrender must now be a matter of a few days only, Doria took no
precautions. His troops were all quartered in the houses of Chioggia,
his galleys moored alongside its quays, and the utmost he did was to
post small bodies of men, with rowboats, at the entrances to the
passages from the sea, and up the lagoons, to give warning of any
sudden attempt on the part of Barberigo, with his light flotilla, to
make a dash at the galleys, and endeavour to burn them.
Having obtained all the information he could from the old fishermen,
Francis dismissed them.
"It is evident," he said to Giuseppi, "that we can hardly hope to
succeed in passing the boats at the entrance to the canal seaward, or
by going up the lagoon. The only plan that I can see is for us to land
on the island of Pelestrina, which is held by us, to carry the boat
across it, and to embark in the Malamocco channel. In this way, we
should be within their cordon of boats, and can row fearlessly either
out to the entrances, or to Chioggia itself. We are not likely to be
detected, and if we are, we must make a race of it to Pelestrina."
The gondolier agreed that the scheme was practicable, and Francis
ordered Giuseppi and him to remove the burdens, and every bit of wood
that could be dispensed with from the gondola, so as to facilitate its
transport.