Chapter 19: The Siege Of Chioggia.
Late in the afternoon, Francis embarked in his gondola, and in an hourand a half landed at Pelestrina. He was well known, to those postedthere, as the bearer of Pisani's orders, and as soon as it became dark,Rufino Giustiniani, who was in command, ordered a dozen men to carrythe light gondola across the island to the Malamocco channel. Whilethis was being done, Francis went to Rufino's tent, and informed him ofwhat was going on in Venice, and that the whole fleet would set sail onthe morrow.
"We heard rumours, from the men who brought our rations, that it was tobe so," Rufino said; "but we have heard the same story a dozen times.So, now, it is really true! But what can the admiral be thinking of!Sure he can't intend to attack Doria with this newly-manned fleet andrabble army. He could not hope for victory against such odds!"
"The admiral's intentions are kept a profound secret," Francis said,"and are only known to the doge and the Council of Ten."
"And to yourself," Rufino said laughing.
"The admiral is good enough to honour me with his fullest confidence,"Francis said; "and in this matter, it is so important that the natureof the design should be kept wholly secret, that I cannot tell it evento you!"
"You are quite right, Francisco; nor do I wish to know it, though Iwould wager that Maria, and her pretty sister, have some inkling ofwhat is going on."
Francis laughed.
"The signoras are good enough to treat me as a brother," he said, "andI will not affirm that they have not obtained some slight information."
"I will warrant they have!" Rufino said. "When my wife has made up hermind to get to the bottom of a matter, she will tease and coax till shesucceeds.
"Ah, here is Matteo! he has been out posting the sentries for thenight."
The two friends had not indulged in a talk for some weeks, though theyhad occasionally met when Francis paid one of his flying visits to theisland.
"I have just seen your boat being carried along," Matteo said, as heentered the tent. "I could not think what it was till I got close; butof course, when I saw Giuseppi, I knew all about it. What are you goingto do--scout among the Genoese?"
"I am going to find out as much as I can," Francis said.
"It's a capital idea your bringing the boat across the island," Matteosaid. "You are always full of good ideas, Francis. I can't make it out.They never seem to occur to me, and at the present time, especially,the only ideas that come into my mind are as to the comfortable meals Iwill eat, when this business is over. I never thought I cared much foreating before, but since I have had nothing but bread--and not enoughof that--and an occasional fish, I have discovered that I am reallyfond of good living. My bones ache perpetually with lying on the bareground, and if I escape from this, without being a cripple for lifefrom rheumatism, I shall consider myself lucky, indeed. You are afortunate fellow, Francisco; spending your time in the admiral'scomfortable palace, or flying about in a smooth-rowing gondola!"
"That is one side of the question certainly," Francis said, laughing;"but there is a good deal of hard work, too, in the way of writing."
"I should not like that," Matteo said. "Still, I think you have thebest of it. If the Genoese would come sometimes, and try and drive usoff the island, there would be some excitement. But, except when theadmiral wishes a reconnaissance, or Barberigo's galleys come down andstir them up, there is really nothing doing here."
"That ought to suit you exactly, Matteo, for never but once did I hearyou say you wanted to do anything."
"When was that?" Rufino asked, laughing.
"Matteo conceived a violent desire to climb Mount Etna," Francis said,"and it needed all my arguments to prevent his leaving the ship atGirgenti, while she was loading, and starting to make the ascent."
"He would have repented before he had gone a quarter of the way up,"Rufino said.
"I might have repented," Matteo replied stoutly, "but I would have doneit, if I had begun. You don't know me yet, Rufino. I have a large storeof energy, only at present I have had no opportunity of showing what Iam made of.
"And now, how do you intend to proceed, Francisco? Have you any plan?"
"None at all," Francis replied. "I simply want to assure myself thatthe galleys are all in their usual places, and that the Genoese aremaking no special preparations against our coming."
"I have seen no unusual stir," Rufino said. "Their ships, as far as onecan see their masts, seem all in their usual position. I fancy that,since Barberigo carried off two of them, they have put booms across thechannels to prevent sudden attacks. I saw a lot of rowboats busy aboutsomething, but I could not make out exactly what they were doing; butstill, I fancy they were constructing a boom. Their galleys keep asharp lookout at night, and you certainly would not have succeeded inpassing them, had you not hit upon this plan of carrying your boatover.
"Your greatest danger will be at first. When once you have fairlyentered the inner canals, you are not likely to be suspected of beingan enemy. They will take you for Chioggian fishermen late. We oftenmake out their returning boats near the town. No doubt Doria is fond offresh fish. Otherwise you would be detected, for the Genoese boats are,of course, quite different to ours, and even in the dark they wouldmake out that you belonged to the lagoons.
"Ah, here is supper! It is not often that I should have anything tooffer you, but one of my men managed to catch three or four fish today,and sold them to me at about their weight in silver. However, I havesome good wine from my own cellars, and a man who has good wine, fish,and bread can do royally, whatever this grumbling brother of mine maysay."
Half an hour later, a soldier brought the news that the gondola was inthe water, and Francis bade adieu to his friends, and started at once.
"Row slowly and quietly," he said, as he took his seat. "Do not letyour oars make the slightest splash in the water, until we are wellacross to the opposite shore. They may have a guard boat lying in thechannel."
The light craft made her way noiselessly across the water. Once ortwice they heard the sound of oars, as some Genoese galley passed up ordown, but none came near enough to perceive them, and they crossed themain channel, and entered one of the numerous passages practicable onlyfor boats of very light draught, without being once hailed. A broadshallow tract of water was now crossed, passable only by craft drawingbut a few inches of water; then again they were in a deeper channel,and the lights of Chioggia rose but a short distance ahead.
They paused and listened, now, for they were nearing the ship channel,and here the enemy would, if anywhere, be on the alert. Coming acrossthe water they could hear the sound of voices, and the dull noise madeby the movement of men in a boat.
"Those are the galleys watching the boom, I expect," Francis said.
"Now, Philippo, we can move on. I suppose there is plenty of water,across the flats, for us to get into the channel without going near theboom."
"Plenty for us, signor; but if the boom goes right across the channel,heavy rowboats would not be able to pass. There are few shallowerplaces in the lagoons than just about here. It may be that in one ortwo places even we might touch, but if we do, the bottom is firm enoughfor us to get out and float the boat over."
But they did not touch any shoal sufficiently shallow to necessitatethis. Several times Francis could feel, by the dragging pace, that shewas touching the oozy bottom; but each time she passed over withoutcoming to a standstill. At last Philippo said:
"We are in the deep channel now, signor. The boom is right astern ofus. The town is only a few hundred yards ahead."
"Then we shall be passing the Genoese galleys, directly," Francis said."Row slowly as we go, and splash sometimes with the oars. If we goquickly and noiselessly past, they might possibly suspect something,but if we row without an attempt at concealment, they will take us fora fisherman's boat."
Soon the dark mass of Genoese ships, with their forests of masts, rosebefore them. There were lights in the cabins, and a buzz of talking,laughing, and
singing among the crews on board.
"What luck today?" a sailor asked them as they rowed past, twenty orthirty yards from the side of one of the ships.
"Very poor," Giuseppi replied. "I think your ships, and the boats lyingabout, and the firing, have frightened the fish away from this end ofthe lagoons."
It was half a mile before they passed the last of the crowd of vessels.
"Would you like me to land here, signor?" Philippo said. "There wouldbe no danger in my doing so. I can make my way, through the streets, tothe house of some of my relatives, and find out from them whether thereare any fresh movements among the Genoese. I will not enter any house;for aught I know there are soldiers quartered everywhere; but I am surenot to go many yards before I run against someone I know."
"I think it will be a very good plan, Philippo. We will lie under thebank here, and wait your return."
It was not more than twenty minutes before the gondolier was back.
"I have spoken to three men I know, signor. They are agreed that thereare no movements among the enemy, and no one seems to have an idea thatthe Venetians are about to put to sea. Of course, I was cautious not tolet drop a word on the subject, and only said we had managed to getthrough the enemy's cordon to learn the latest news, and I expected toearn a ducat or two by my night's work."
"That is excellent," Francis said. "Now, we will row out to the seamouths of the channels, to assure ourselves that no ships are lying onguard there, for some are going in or out every day to cruise along thecoast. A few may have taken up their station there, without attractingnotice among the townspeople."
The opening of the passage known as the Canal of Lombardy was firstvisited. To gain this, they had to retrace their steps for somedistance, and to row through the town of Chioggia, passing severalboats and galleys, but without attracting notice. They found the mouthof the canal entirely unguarded, and then returned and rowed out to themouth of the Brondolo passage. Some blazing fires on the shore showedthat there were parties of soldiers here, but no ships were lyinganywhere in the channel.
After some consultation they determined that, as no watch seemed to bekept, it would be shorter to row on outside the islands, and to enterby the third passage to be examined, that between Pelestrina andBrondolo. Here, however, the Genoese were more on the alert, as thePelestrina shore was held by the Venetians. Scarcely had they enteredthe channel, when a large rowboat shot out from the shadow of the shoreand hailed them.
"Stop rowing in that boat! Who are you that are entering so late?"
"Fishermen," Philippo shouted back, but without stopping rowing.
"Stop!" shouted the officer, "till we examine you! It is forbidden toenter the channel after dark."
But the gondoliers rowed steadily on, until ahead of the boat comingout. This fell into their wake, and its angry officer shouted threatsagainst the fugitives, and exhorted his men to row their hardest.
"There are two more boats ahead, signor. They are lying on their oarsto cut us off. One is a good deal further out than the other, and Idon't think we shall gain Pelestrina."
"Then make for the Brondolo shore till we have passed them," Francissaid.
The boat whirled off her course, and made towards the shore. TheGenoese galleys ahead at once made towards them; but in spite of thenumerous oars they pulled, the craft could not keep up with the racinggondola, and it crossed ahead of them. In another five minutes' rowing,the three galleys were well astern, and the gondola again made out fromthe shore, her head pointing obliquely towards Pelestrina. The galleyswere now fifty yards behind, and although their crews rowed theirhardest, the gondola gradually gained upon them, and crossing theirbows made over towards Pelestrina.
"We are out of the channel now," Philippo said, "and there will not bewater enough for them to follow us much further."
A minute or two later a sudden shout proclaimed that the nearest oftheir pursuers had touched the ground.
"We can take it easy now," Giuseppi said, "and I am not sorry, for wecould not have rowed harder if we had been racing."
A few minutes later, the light craft touched the mud a few yardsdistant from the shore.
"Is that you, Francisco?" a voice, which Francis recognized asMatteo's, asked.
"All right, Matteo!" he replied. "No one hurt this time."
"I have been on the lookout for you the last hour. I have got a body ofmy men here, in case you were chased. We heard the shouting and guessedit was you."
"If you have got some men there, Matteo, there is a chance for you totake a prize. A galley rowing twelve or fourteen oars is in the mud, afew hundred yards out. She was chasing us, and ran aground when at fullspeed, and I imagine they will have some trouble in getting her off. Isuppose she draws a couple of feet of water. There! Don't you hear thehubbub they are making?"
"I hear them," Matteo said.
"Come along, lads. The night is cold, and I don't suppose the water isany warmer, but a skirmish will heat our blood."
Matteo, followed by a company of some forty men, at once entered thewater, and made in the direction of the sounds. Five minutes later,Francis heard shouts and a clashing of weapons suddenly break out. Itlasted but a short time. Matteo and his band soon returned with theprisoners.
"What! Have you waited, Francisco? I thought you would be on the otherside of the island by this time."
"I was in no particular hurry, Matteo; and besides, I want my boat; andalthough two men can lift her easily enough, she would be a heavyweight to carry so far."
"You shall have a dozen, Francisco. It is owing to you we have takenthese prisoners, and that I have had my first bit of excitement since Icame out here.
"Sergeant, here are a couple of ducats. When you have given theprisoners into safe custody, spend the money in wine for the company.
"The water is bitterly cold, I can tell you, Francisco; but otherwise Iam warm enough, for one's feet stick to the mud, and it seems, eachstep, as if one had fifty pounds of lead on one's shoes. But come alongto my brother's tent at once. Your feet must be cold, too, though thewater was only a few inches deep where you got out of your boat. Aglass of hot wine will do us both good; and it will be an hour beforeyour boat is in the water again. Indeed, I don't see the use of yourstarting before daybreak."
"Nor do I, Matteo; but I must go, nevertheless. Pisani knows how longit will take me to get to Chioggia and return. He will allow an hour ortwo for me to reconnoitre, and will then be expecting me back. As itis, I shall be two hours after the time when he will be expecting me,for he knows nothing about the boat being carried across this island,and will make no allowance for that. Moreover, Polani and his daughterswill be anxious about me."
"Oh, you flatter yourself they will be lying awake for you," Matteosaid, laughing. "Thinking over your dangers! Well, there's nothing likehaving a good idea of one's self."
Francis joined in the laugh.
"It does sound rather conceited, Matteo; but I know they will beanxious. They took up the idea it was a dangerous service I was goingon, and I have no doubt they fidgeted over it. Women are alwaysfancying things, you know."
"I don't know anyone who fidgets about me," Matteo said; "but then, yousee, I am not a rescuer of damsels in distress, nor have I received thethanks of the republic for gallant actions."
"Well, you ought to have done," Francis replied. "You had just as muchto do with that fight on board Pisani's galley as I had, only ithappened I was in command.
"Oh, there is your brother's tent! I see there is a light burning, so Isuppose he has not gone to bed yet."
"All the better," Matteo said. "We shall get our hot wine all thequicker. My teeth are chattering so, I hardly dare speak for fear ofbiting my tongue."
Francis was warmly welcomed by Rufino Giustiniani.
"I need hardly ask you if you have succeeded in reconnoitring theirpositions, for I know you would not come back before morning had younot carried out your orders.
"Why, Matteo, what have you been doi
ng--wading in the mud, apparently?Why, you are wet up to the waist."
"We have captured an officer, and fourteen men, Rufino. They will behere in a few minutes. Their boat got stuck fast while it was chasingFrancisco; so we waded out and took them. They made some resistance,but beyond a few slashes, and two or three thumps from their oars, noharm was done."
"That is right, Matteo. I am glad you have had a skirmish with them atlast. Now go in and change your things. I shall have you on my handswith rheumatism."
"I will do that at once, and I hope you will have some hot spiced wineready, by the time I have changed, for I am nearly frozen."
The embers of a fire, outside the tent, were soon stirred together, andin a few minutes the wine was prepared. In the meantime, Francis hadbeen telling Rufino the incidents of his trip. In half an hour, themessage came that the gondola was again in the water, and Francis wassoon on his way back to the city.
"I was beginning to be anxious about you," was Pisani's greeting, as,upon being informed of his return, he sprang from the couch, on whichhe had thrown himself for an hour's sleep, and hurried downstairs. "Ireckoned that you might have been back an hour before this, and beganto think that you must have got into some scrape. Well, what have youdiscovered?"
"The Genoese have no idea that you are going to put to sea. Their shipsand galleys are, as usual, moored off the quays of Chioggia. Theentrance to the Canal of Lombardy, and the Brondolo passage, are bothquite open, and there appear to be no troops anywhere near; but betweenPelestrina and Brondolo they have rowboats watching the entrance, butno craft of any size. There are a few troops there, but, so far as Icould judge by the number of fires, not more than two hundred men orso."
"Your news is excellent, Francisco. I will not ask you more, now. It isthree o'clock already, and at five I must be up and doing; so get offto bed as soon as you can. You can give me the details in the morning."
The gondola was still waiting at the steps, and in a few minutesFrancis arrived at the Palazzo Polani. A servant was sleeping on abench in the hall. He started up as Francis entered.
"I have orders to let my master know, as soon as you return, signor."
"You can tell him, at the same time, that I have returned without hurt,and pray him not to disturb himself, as I can tell him what has takenplace in the morning."
Polani, however, at once came to Francis' room.
"Thank Heaven you have returned safe to us, my boy!" he said. "I havejust knocked at the girls' doors, to tell them of your return, and, bythe quickness with which they answered, I am sure that they, likemyself, have had no sleep. Have you succeeded in your mission?"
"Perfectly, signor. I have been to Chioggia itself, and to theentrances of the three passages, and have discovered that none of themare guarded by any force that could resist us."
"But how did you manage to pass through their galleys?"
"I landed on this side of Pelestrina, and had the gondola carriedacross, and launched in the channel inside their cordon; and it was notuntil we entered the last passage--that by Brondolo--that we werenoticed. Then there was a sharp chase for a bit, but we outstrippedthem, and got safely across to Pelestrina. One of the galleys, in theexcitement of the chase, ran fast into the mud; and Matteo, with someof his men, waded out and captured the officer and crew. So there isevery prospect of our succeeding tomorrow."
"All that is good," Polani said; "but to me, just at present, I ownthat the principal thing is that you have got safely back. Now I willnot keep you from your bed, for I suppose that you will not be able tolie late in the morning."
Francis certainly did not intend to do so, but the sun was high beforehe woke. He hurriedly dressed, and went downstairs.
"I have seen the admiral," Polani said as he entered, "and told himthat you were sound asleep, and I did not intend to wake you, for thatyou were looking worn and knocked up. He said: 'Quite right! The lad isso willing and active, that I forget sometimes that he is not an oldsea dog like myself, accustomed to sleep with one eye open, and to gowithout sleep altogether for days if necessary.' So you need not hurryover your breakfast. The girls are dying to hear your adventures."
As he took his breakfast, Francis gave the girls an account of hisexpedition.
"And so, you saw Rufino!" Maria said. "Did he inquire after me? Youtold him, I hope, that I was fading away rapidly from grief at hisabsence."
"I did not venture upon so flagrant an untruth as that," Francisreplied.
"Is he very uncomfortable?"
"Not very, signora. He has a good tent, some excellent wine, anallowance of bread, which might be larger, and occasionally fish. As hehas also the gift of excellent spirits, I do not think he is greatly tobe pitied--except, of course, for his absence from you."
"That, of course," Maria said. "When he does come here, he always tellsme a moving tale of his privations, in hopes of exciting pity; but,unfortunately, I cannot help laughing at his tales of hardship. But wewere really anxious about you last night, Francisco, and very thankfulwhen we heard you had returned.
"Weren't we, Giulia?"
Giulia nodded.
"Giulia hasn't much to say when you are here, Francisco, but she canchatter about you fast enough when we are alone."
"How can you say so, Maria?" Giulia said reproachfully.
"Well, my dear, there is no harm in that. For aught he knows, you maybe saying the most unkind things about him, all the time."
"I am sure he knows that I should not do that," Giulia saidindignantly.
"By the way, do you know, Francisco, that all Venice is in a state ofexcitement! A proclamation has been issued by the doge, this morning,that all should be in their galleys and at their posts at noon, underpain of death. So everyone knows that something is about to be done, atlast."
"Then it is time for me to be off," Francis said, rising hastily, "forit is ten o'clock already."
"Take your time, my lad," the merchant said. "There is no hurry, forPisani told me, privately, that they should not sail until after dark."
It was not, indeed, until nearly eight o'clock in the evening, that theexpedition started. At the hour of vespers, the doge, Pisani, and theother leaders of the expedition, attended mass in the church of SaintMark, and then proceeded to their galleys, where all was now inreadiness.
Pisani led the first division, which consisted of fourteen galleys. Thedoge, assisted by Cavalli, commanded in the centre; and Corbaro broughtup the rear, with ten large ships. The night was beautifully bright andcalm, a light and favourable breeze was blowing, and all Veniceassembled to see the departure of the fleet.
Just after it passed through the passage of the Lido, a thick mist cameon. Pisani stamped up and down the deck impatiently.
"If this goes on, it will ruin us," he said. "Instead of arriving inproper order at the mouth of the passages, and occupying them beforethe Genoese wake up to a sense of their danger, we shall get there oneby one, they will take the alarm, and we shall have their whole fleetto deal with. It will be simply ruin to our scheme."
Fortunately, however, the fog speedily lifted. The vessels closed uptogether, and, in two hours after starting, arrived off the entrancesto the channels. Pisani anchored until daylight appeared, and nearlyfive thousand men were then landed on the Brondolo's shore, easilydriving back the small detachment placed there. But the alarm was soongiven, and the Genoese poured out in such overwhelming force that theVenetians were driven in disorder to their boats, leaving behind themsix hundred killed, drowned, or prisoners.
But Pisani had not supposed that he would be able to hold his positionin front of the whole Genoese force, and he had succeeded in his mainobject. While the fighting had been going on on shore, a party ofsailors had managed to moor a great ship, laden with stones, across thechannel. As soon as the Genoese had driven the Venetians to theirboats, they took possession of this vessel, and, finding that she wasaground, they set her on fire, thus unconsciously aiding Pisani'sobject, for when she had burned to the water's e
dge she sank.
Barberigo, with his light galleys, now arrived upon the spot, andemptied their loads of stone into the passage around the wreck. TheGenoese kept up a heavy fire with their artillery, many of the galleyswere sunk, and numbers of the Venetians drowned, or killed by the shot.
Nevertheless, they worked on unflinchingly. As soon as the pile ofstones had risen sufficiently for the men to stand upon them, waistdeep, they took their places upon it, and packed in order the stonesthat their comrades handed them, and fixed heavy chains binding thewhole together.
The work was terribly severe. The cold was bitter. The men were badlyfed, and most of them altogether unaccustomed to hardships. In additionto the fire from the enemy's guns, they were exposed to a rain ofarrows, and at the end of two days and nights they were utterly wornout and exhausted, and protested that they could do no more. Pisani,who had himself laboured among them in the thickest of the danger,strove to keep up their spirits by pointing out the importance of theirwork, and requested the doge to swear on his sword that, old as he was,he would never return to Venice unless Chioggia was conquered.
The doge took the oath, and for the moment the murmuring ceased; and,on the night of the 24th, the channel of Chioggia was entirely chokedfrom shore to shore. On that day, Corbaro succeeded in sinking twohulks in the passage of Brondolo. Doria, who had hitherto believed thatthe Venetians would attempt nothing serious, now perceived for thefirst time the object of Pisani, and despatched fourteen great galleysto crush Corbaro, who had with him but four vessels. Pisani at oncesailed to his assistance, with ten more ships, and the passage was nowso narrow that the Genoese did not venture to attack, and Corbarocompleted the operation of blocking up the Brondolo passage. The nextday the Canal of Lombardy was similarly blocked; and thus, on thefourth day after leaving Venice, Pisani had accomplished his object,and had shut out the Genoese galleys from the sea.
But the work had been terrible, and the losses great. The soldiers wereon half rations. The cold was piercing. They were engaged night and daywith the enemy, and were continually wet through, and the labour wastremendous.
A fort had already been begun on the southern shore of the port ofBrondolo, facing the convent, which Doria had transformed into acitadel. The new work was christened the Lova, and the heaviest guns inthe Venetian arsenal were planted there. One of these, named theTrevisan, discharged stones of a hundred and ninety-five pounds inweight, and the Victory was little smaller. But the science ofartillery was then in its youth, and these guns could only bedischarged once in twenty-four hours.
But, on the 29th, the Venetians could do no more, and officers,soldiers, and sailors united in the demand that they should return toVenice. Even Pisani felt that the enterprise was beyond him, and thathis men, exhausted by cold, hunger, and their incessant exertions,could no longer resist the overwhelming odds brought against him.Still, he maintained a brave front, and once again his cheery words,and unfeigned good temper, and the example set them by the aged doge,had their effect; but the soldiers required a pledge that, if Zenoshould not be signalled in sight by New Year's Day, he would raise thesiege. If Pisani and the doge would pledge themselves to this, thepeople agreed to maintain the struggle for the intervening forty-eighthours.
The pledge was given, and the fight continued. Thus, the fate of Venicehung in the balance. If Zeno arrived, not only would she be saved, butshe had it in her power to inflict upon Genoa a terrible blow. ShouldZeno still tarry, not only would the siege be raised, and the Genoesebe at liberty to remove the dams which the Venetians had placed, atsuch a cost of suffering and blood; but there would be nothing left forVenice but to accept the terms, however onerous, her triumphant foesmight dictate, terms which would certainly strip her of all herpossessions, and probably involve even her independence.
Never, from her first foundation, had Venice been in such terriblerisk. Her very existence trembled in the balance. The 30th passed asthe days preceding it. There was but little fighting, for the Genoeseknew how terrible were the straits to which Venice was reduced, andlearned, from the prisoners they had taken, that in a few days, at theoutside, the army besieging them would cease to exist.
At daybreak, on the 31st, men ascended the masts of the ships, andgazed over the sea, in hopes of making out the long-expected sails. Butthe sea was bare. It was terrible to see the faces of the Venetians,gaunt with famine, broken down by cold and fatigue. Even the mostenduring began to despair.
Men spoke no more of Zeno. He had been away for months. Was it likelythat he would come just at this moment? They talked rather of theirhomes. The next day they would return. If they must die, they would diewith those they loved, in Venice. They should not mind that. And so theday went on, and as they lay down at night, hungry and cold, theythanked God that it was their last day. Whatever might come would bebetter than this.
Men were at the mastheads again, before daylight, on the 1st ofJanuary. Then, as the first streak of dawn broke, the cry went frommasthead to masthead:
"There are ships out at sea!"
The cry was heard on shore. Pisani jumped into a boat with Francis,rowed out to his ship, and climbed the mast.
"Yes, there are ships!" he said. And then, after a pause: "Fifteen ofthem! Who are they? God grant it be Zeno!"
This was the question everyone on ship and on shore was asking himself,for it was known that the Genoese, too, were expecting reinforcements.
"The wind is scarce strong enough to move them through the water,"Pisani said. "Let some light boats go off to reconnoitre. Let us knowthe best or the worst. If it be Zeno, Venice is saved! If it be theGenoese, I, and those who agree with me that it is better to diefighting, than to perish of hunger, will go out and attack them."
In a few minutes, several fast galleys started for the fleet, which wasstill so far away that the vessels could scarcely be made out, stillless their rig and nationality. It would be some time before the boatswould return with the news, and Pisani went ashore, and, with the doge,moved among the men, exhorting them to be steadfast, above all thingsnot to give way to panic, should the newcomers prove to be enemies.
"If all is done in order," he said, "they cannot interfere with ourretreat to Venice. They do not know how weak we are, and will notventure to attack so large a fleet. Therefore, when the signal is madethat they are Genoese, we will fall back in good order to our boats,and take to our ships, and then either return to Venice, or sail outand give battle, as it may be decided."
The boats, before starting, had been told to hoist white flags shouldthe galleys be Venetian, but to show no signal if they were Genoese.The boats were watched, from the mastheads, until they became specks inthe distance. An hour afterwards, the lookout signalled to those onshore that they were returning.
"Go off again, Francisco. I must remain here to keep up the men'shearts, if the news be bad. Take your stand on the poop of my ship, andthe moment the lookouts can say, with certainty, whether the boatscarry a white flag or not, hoist the Lion of Saint Mark to themasthead, if it be Zeno. If not, run up a blue flag!"
Chapter 20: The Triumph Of Venice.
Francis rowed off to the ship, got the flags in readiness for hoisting,and stood with the lines in his hand.
"Can you make them out, yet?" he hailed the men at the mastheads.
"They are mere specks yet, signor," the man at the foremast said.
The other did not reply at once, but presently he shouted down:
"Far as they are away, signor, I am almost sure that one or two ofthem, at least, have something white flying."
There was a murmur of joy from the men on the deck, for Jacopo Zippowas famous for his keenness of sight.
"Silence, men!" Francis said. "Do not let a man shout, or wave his cap,till we are absolutely certain. Remember the agony with which those onshore are watching us, and the awful disappointment it would be, weretheir hopes raised only to be crushed, afterwards."
Another ten minutes, and Jacopo slid rapidly down by the stays, andstood
on the deck with bared head.
"God be praised, signor! I have no longer a doubt. I can tell you, forcertain, that white flags are flying from these boats."
"God be praised!" Francis replied.
"Now, up with the Lion!"
The flag was bent to the halyards and Francis hoisted it. As it roseabove the bulwark, Pisani, who was standing on a hillock of sand,shouted out at the top of his voice:
"It is Zeno's fleet!"
A shout of joy broke from the troops. Cheer after cheer rent the air,from ship and shore, and then the wildest excitement reigned. Some fellon their knees, to thank God for the rescue thus sent when all seemedlost. Others stood with clasped hands, and streaming eyes, lookingtowards heaven. Some danced and shouted. Some wept with joy. Men fellon to each other's necks, and embraced. Some threw up their caps. Allwere wild with joy, and pent-up excitement.
Zeno, who, in ignorance of the terrible straits to which his countrymenwere reduced, was making with his fleet direct to Venice, wasintercepted by one of the galleys, and at once bore up for Brondolo,and presently dropped anchor near the shore. As he did so, a boat waslowered, and he rowed to the strand, where the Venetians crowded downto greet him. With difficulty, he made his way through the shoutingmultitude to the spot, a little distance away, where the doge wasawaiting him.
Zeno was of medium height, square shouldered and broad chested. Hishead was manly and handsome, his nose aquiline, his eyes large, dark,and piercingly bright, and shaded by strongly-marked eyebrows. His airwas grave and thoughtful, and in strong contrast to that of the merryand buoyant Pisani. His temper was more equable, but his character wasas impulsive as that of the admiral. He was now forty-five years ofage--ten years the junior of Pisani. Zeno was intended for the church,and was presented by the pope with the reversion of a rich prebendalstall at Patras. On his way to Padua, to complete his studies at theuniversity, he was attacked by robbers, who left him for dead. Herecovered, however, and went to Padua. He became an accomplishedscholar; but was so fond of gambling that he lost every penny, and wasobliged to escape from his creditors by flight. For five years hewandered over Italy, taking part in all sorts of adventures, and thensuddenly returned to Venice, and was persuaded by his friends toproceed to Patras, where his stall was now vacant.
When he arrived there, he found the city besieged by the Turks. Inspite of his clerical dignity, he placed himself in the front rank ofits defenders, and distinguished himself by extreme bravery. He wasdesperately wounded, and was again believed to be dead. He was evenplaced in his coffin; but just as it was being nailed down, he showedsigns of returning life. He did not stay long at Patras, but travelledin Germany, France, and England.
Soon after he returned to Patras he fought a duel, and therebyforfeited his stall. He now renounced the clerical profession, andmarried a wealthy heiress. She died shortly afterwards, and he marriedthe daughter of the Admiral Marco Giustiniani.
He now entered upon political life, and soon showed brilliant talents.He was then appointed to the military command of the district ofTreviso, which the Paduans were then invading. Here he very greatlydistinguished himself, and in numberless engagements was alwayssuccessful, so that he became known as Zeno the Unconquered.
When Pisani was appointed captain general, in April, 1378, he wasappointed governor of Negropont, and soon afterwards received aseparate naval command. He had been lost sight of for many months,prior to his appearance so opportunely before Brondolo, and he nowconfirmed to the doge the news that had been received shortly before.He had captured nearly seventy Genoese vessels, of various sizes, hadcruised for some time in sight of Genoa, struck a heavy blow at hercommerce, and prevented the despatch of the reinforcements promised toDoria. Among the vessels taken was one which was carrying three hundredthousand ducats from Genoa.
He reported himself ready with his men to take up the brunt of thesiege forthwith, and selecting Brondolo as the most dangerous position,at once landed his crews. The stores on board ship were also broughtashore, and proved ample for the present necessities of the army.
In a few days, he sailed with his galleys and recaptured Loredo,driving out the Paduan garrison there. This conquest was all importantto Venice, for it opened their communication with Ferrara, and vaststores of provisions were at once sent by their ally to Venice, and thepressure of starvation immediately ceased.
The siege of Brondolo was now pushed on, and on the 22nd of January thegreat bombard, the Victory, so battered the wall opposite to it that itfell suddenly, crushing beneath its ruins the Genoese commander, Doria.
The change which three weeks had made in the appearance of the Venetianforces was marvellous. Ample food, firing, and shelter had restoredtheir wasted frames, and assurance of victory had taken the place ofthe courage of despair. A month of toil, hardship, and fighting hadconverted a mob of recruits into disciplined soldiers, and Zeno andPisani seemed to have filled all with their own energy and courage.Zeno, indeed, was so rash and fearless that he had innumerable escapesfrom death.
One evening after dusk his own vessel, having been accidentally tornfrom its anchorage near the Lova Fort by the force of the wind andcurrents, was driven across the passage against the enemy's forts,whence showers of missiles were poured into it. One arrow pierced histhroat. Dragging it out, he continued to issue his orders for gettingthe galley off the shore--bade a seaman swim with a line to themoorings, and angrily rebuked those who, believing destruction to beinevitable, entreated him to strike his flag. The sailor reached themoorings, and, with a line he had taken, made fast a strong rope to it,and the vessel was then hauled off into a place of safety. As Zenohurried along the deck, superintending the operation, he tumbled downan open hatchway, and fell on his back, almost unconscious. In a fewmoments he would have been suffocated by the blood from the wound inhis throat, but with a final effort he managed to roll over on to hisface, the wound was thus permitted to bleed freely, and he soonrecovered.
On the 28th of February, he was appointed general in chief of the landforces, and the next day drove the Genoese from all their positions onthe islands of Brondolo and Little Chioggia, and on the followingmorning established his headquarters under the ramparts of Chioggia,and directed a destructive fire upon the citadel. As the Genoese fellback across the bridge over the Canal of Santa Caterina, the structuregave way under their weight, and great numbers were drowned. Theretreat of the Genoese was indeed so hurried and confused, and theyleft behind them an immense quantity of arms, accoutrements, and warmaterial, so much so that suits of mail were selling for a fewshillings in the Venetian camp.
So completely were the Genoese disheartened, by the change in theirposition, that many thought that the Venetians could at once have takenChioggia by assault; but the leaders were determined to risk nofailure, and knew that the enemy must yield to hunger. They thereforecontented themselves with a rigorous blockade, cutting off all thesupplies which the Lord of Padua endeavoured to throw into the city.The Venetians, however, allowed the besieged to send away their womenand children, who were taken to Venice and kindly treated there.
The army of Venice had now been vastly increased, by the arrival of theStar Company of Milan, and the Condottieri commanded by Sir JohnHawkwood. The dikes, erected across the channels with so much labour,were removed, and the fleet took their part in the siege.
On the 14th of May there was joy in Chioggia, similar to that which theVenetians had felt at the sight of Zeno's fleet, for on that morningthe squadron, which Genoa had sent to their assistance under thecommand of Matteo Maruffo, appeared in sight. This admiral had wastedmuch valuable time on the way, but had fallen in with and captured,after a most gallant resistance, five Venetian galleys underGiustiniani, who had been despatched to Apulia to fetch grain.
The Genoese fleet drew up in order of battle, and challenged Pisani tocome out to engage them. But, impetuous as was the disposition of theadmiral, and greatly as he longed to avenge his defeat at Pola, herefused to stir. He knew that Chioggia
must, ere long, fall, and hewould not risk all the advantages gained, by so many months of toil andeffort, upon the hazard of a battle. Day after day Maruffo repeated hischallenge, accompanied by such insolent taunts that the blood of theVenetian sailors was so stirred that Pisani could no longer restrainthem. After obtaining leave from the doge to go out and give battle, hesailed into the roadstead on the 25th. The two fleets drew up in lineof battle, facing each other. Just as the combat was about to commencea strange panic seized the Genoese, and, without exchanging a blow orfiring a shot, they fled hastily. Pisani pursued them for some miles,and then returned to his old station.
The grief and despair of the garrison of Chioggia, at the sight of theretreat of their fleet, was in proportion to the joy with which theyhad hailed its approach. Their supply of fresh water was all butexhausted. Their rations had become so scanty that, from sheerweakness, they were unable, after the first week in June, to work theirguns.
Genoa, in despair at the position of her troops, laboured unceasinglyto relieve them. Emissaries were sent to tamper with the freecompanies, and succeeded so far that these would have marched away, hadthey not been appeased by the promise of a three days' sack ofChioggia, and a month's extra pay at the end of the war. Attempts weremade to assassinate Zeno, but these also failed. The Genoese theninduced the pope to intercede on their behalf; but the councilremembered that when Venice was at the edge of destruction, on the 31stof December, no power had come forward to save her, and refused now tobe robbed of the well-earned triumph.
On the 15th of July, Maruffo, who had received reinforcements againmade his appearance; but Pisani this time refused to be tempted out. Onthe 21st a deputation was sent out from Chioggia to ask for terms, andthough, on being told that an unconditional surrender alone would beaccepted, they returned to the city, yet the following day the Genoeseflag was hauled down from the battlements.
On the 24th the doge, accompanied by Pisani and Zeno, made his formalentry into Chioggia. The booty was enormous; and the companies receivedthe promised bounty, and were allowed to pillage for three days. Solarge was the plunder collected, in this time, by the adventurers, thatthe share of one of them amounted to five hundred ducats. The republic,however, did not come off altogether without spoil--they obtainednineteen seaworthy galleys, four thousand four hundred and fortyprisoners, and a vast amount of valuable stores, the salt alone beingcomputed as worth ninety thousand crowns.
Not even when the triumphant fleet returned, after the conquest ofConstantinople, was Venice so wild with delight, as when the doge,accompanied by Pisani and Zeno, entered the city in triumph after thecapture of Chioggia. From the danger, more imminent than any that hadthreatened Venice from her first foundation, they had emerged with asuccess which would cripple the strength, and lower the pride of Genoafor years. Each citizen felt that he had some share in the triumph, foreach had taken his share in the sufferings, the sacrifices, and theefforts of the struggle. There had been no unmanly giving way todespair, no pitiful entreaty for aid in their peril. Venice had reliedupon herself, and had come out triumphant.
From every house hung flags and banners, every balcony was hung withtapestry and drapery. The Grand Canal was closely packed with gondolas,which, for once, disregarded the sumptuary law that enforced black astheir only hue, and shone in a mass of colour. Gaily dressed ladies satbeneath canopies of silk and velvet; flags floated from every boat, andthe rowers were dressed in the bright liveries of their employers. Thechurch bells rang out with a deafening clang, and from roof andbalcony, from wharf and river, rang out a mighty shout of welcome andtriumph from the crowded mass, as the great state gondola, bearing thedoge and the two commanders, made its way, slowly and with difficulty,along the centre of the canal.
Francis was on board one of the gondolas that followed in the wake ofthat of the doge, and as soon as the grand service in Saint Mark's wasover, he slipped off and made his way back to the Palazzo Polani. Themerchant and Giulia had both been present at the ceremony, and had justreturned when he arrived.
"I guessed you would be off at once, Francisco, directly the ceremonywas over. I own that I, myself, would have stayed for a time to see thegrand doings in the Piazza, but this child would not hear of our doingso. She said it would be a shame, indeed, if you should arrive home andfind no one to greet you."
"So it would have been," Giulia said. "I am sure I should not haveliked, when I have been away, even on a visit of pleasure to Corfu, toreturn and find the house empty; and after the terrible dangers andhardships you have gone through, Francisco, it would have been unkind,indeed, had we not been here. You still look thin and worn."
"I think that is fancy on your part, Giulia. To my eyes he looks asstout as ever I saw him. But certainly he looked as lean and famishedas a wolf, when I paid that visit to the camp the day before Zeno'sarrival. His clothes hung loose about him, his cheeks were hollow, andhis eyes sunken. He would have been a sight for men to stare at, hadnot every one else been in an equally bad case.
"Well, I thank God there is an end of it, now! Genoa will be glad tomake peace on any terms, and the sea will once more be open to ourships. So now, Francisco, you have done with fighting, and will be ableto turn your attention to the humbler occupation of a merchant."
"That will I right gladly," Francis said. "I used to think, once, Ishould like to be a man-at-arms; but I have seen enough of it, and hopeI never will draw my sword again, unless it be in conflict with someMoorish rover. I have had many letters from my father, chiding me formingling in frays in which I have no concern, and shall be able togladden his heart, by writing to assure him that I have done withfighting."
"It has done you no harm, Francisco, or rather it has done you muchgood. It has given you the citizenship of Venice, in itself no slightadvantage to you as a trader here. It has given you three hundredducats a year, which, as a mark of honour, is not to be despised. Ithas won for you a name throughout the republic, and has given you afame and popularity such as few, if any, citizens of Venice everattained at your age. Lastly, it has made a man of you. It has givenyou confidence and self possession. You have acquired the habit ofcommanding men. You have been placed in positions which have called forthe exercise of rare judgment, prudence, and courage; and you have comewell through it all. It is but four years since your father left you alad in my keeping. Now you are a man, whom the highest noble in Venicemight be proud of calling his son. You have no reason to regret,therefore, that you have, for a year, taken up soldiering instead oftrading, especially as our business was all stopped by the war, and youmust have passed your time in inactivity."
In the evening, when the merchant and Francis were alone together, theformer said:
"I told you last autumn, Francis, when I informed you that, henceforth,you would enter into my house as a partner in the business, when weagain recommenced trade, that I had something else in my mind, but thetime to speak of it had not then arrived. I think it has now come. Tellme, my boy, frankly, if there is anything that you would wish to ask ofme."
Francis was silent for a moment; then he said:
"You have done so much, Signor Polani. You have heaped kindness uponme, altogether beyond anything I could have hoped for, that, even did Iwish for more, I could not ask it."
"Then there is something more you would like, Francisco. Remember thatI have told you that I regard you as a son, and therefore I wish you tospeak to me, as frankly as if I was really your father."
"I fear, signor, that you will think me audacious, but since you thusurge upon me to speak all that is in my mind, I cannot but tell you thetruth. I love your daughter, Giulia, and have done so ever since thefirst day that my eyes fell on her. It has seemed to me too much, evento hope, that she can ever be mine, and I have been careful in lettingno word expressive of my feelings pass my lips. It still seems, to me,beyond the bounds of possibility that I could successfully aspire tothe hand of the daughter of one of the noblest families in Venice."
"I am glad you have spoken
frankly, dear lad," the merchant said. "Eversince you rescued my daughters from the hands of Mocenigo, it has beenon my mind that someday, perhaps, you would be my son-in-law, as wellas my son by adoption. I have watched with approval that, as Giuliagrew from a child into a young woman, her liking for you seemed toripen into affection. This afternoon I have spoken to her, and she hasacknowledged that she would obey my commands, to regard you as herfuture husband, with gladness.
"I could not, however, offer my daughter's hand to one who might rejectit, or who, if he accepted it, would only do so because he consideredthe match to be a desirable one, from a business point of view. Nowthat you have told me you love her, all difficulties are at an end. Iam not one of those fathers who would force a marriage upon theirdaughters, regardless of their feelings. I gave to Maria free choiceamong her various suitors, and so I would give it to Giulia. Her choiceis in accordance with my own secret hopes, and I therefore, freely andgladly, bestow her upon you. You must promise only that you do notcarry her away altogether to England, so long as I live. You can, ifyou like, pay long visits with her from time to time to your nativecountry, but make Venice your headquarters.
"I need say nothing to you about her dowry. I intended that, as mypartner, you should take a fourth share of the profits of the business;but as Giulia's husband, I shall now propose that you have a third.This will give you an income equal to that of all but the wealthiest ofthe nobles of Venice. At my death, my fortune will be divided betweenmy girls."
Francis expressed, in a few words, his joy and gratitude at themerchant's offer. Giulia had inspired him, four years before, with aboyish love, and it had steadily increased until he felt that, howevergreat his success in life as Messer Polani's partner, his happinesswould be incomplete unless shared by Giulia. Polani cut short his wordsby saying:
"My dear boy, I am as pleased that this should be so as you are. I nowfeel that I have, indeed, gained a son and secured the happiness of mydaughter. Go in to her now. You will find her in the embroidery room. Itold her that I should speak to you this evening, and she is doubtlessin a tremble as to the result, for she told me frankly that, althoughshe loved you, she feared you only regarded her with the affection of abrother, and she implored me, above all, not to give you a hint of herfeelings towards you, until I was convinced that you really loved her."
Two months later, the marriage of Francis Hammond and Giulia Polanitook place. There were great festivities, and the merchant spent aconsiderable sum in giving a feast, on the occasion, to all the poor ofVenice. Maria told Francis, in confidence, that she had always made upher mind that he would marry Giulia.
"The child was silly enough to fall in love with you from the first,Francisco, and I was sure that you, in your dull English fashion, caredfor her. My father confided to me, long since, that he hoped it wouldcome about."
Francis Hammond lived for many years with his wife in Venice, payingoccasional visits to England. He was joined, soon after his marriage,by his brother, who, after serving for some years in the business,entered it as a partner, when Messer Polani's increasing years renderedit necessary for him to retire from an active participation in it.
Some months after his marriage, Francis was saddened by the death ofAdmiral Pisani, who never recovered from the fatigue and hardships hesuffered during the siege of Chioggia. He had, with the fleet,recovered most of the places that the Genoese had captured, and afterchasing a Genoese fleet to Zara, had a partial engagement with themthere. In this, Corbaro, now holding the commission of admiral of thesquadron, was killed, and Pisani himself wounded. He was alreadysuffering from fever; and the loss of Corbaro, and the check that thefleet had suffered, increased his malady, and he expired three dayslater.
Venice made peace with Genoa, but the grudge which she bore to Paduawas not wiped out until some years later, when, in 1404, that city wasbesieged by the Venetians, and forced by famine to surrender in theautumn of the following year; after which Zeno, having been proved tohave kept up secret communications with the Lord of Padua, was deprivedof his honours and sentenced to a year's imprisonment. Thus, in turn,the two great Venetian commanders suffered disgrace and imprisonment.
As she had been patient and steadfast in her time of distress, Venicewas clement in her hour of triumph, and granted far more favourableterms to Padua than that city deserved.
At the death of Messer Polani, Francis returned with his wife andfamily to England, and established himself in London, where he at oncetook rank as one of the leading merchants. His fortune, however, was solarge, that he had no occasion to continue in commerce, and he did soonly to afford him a certain amount of occupation. His brother carriedon the business in Venice, and became one of the leading citizensthere, in partnership with Matteo Giustiniani. Every two or three yearsFrancis made a voyage with his wife to Venice and spent some monthsthere, and to the end of his life never broke off his close connectionwith the City of the Waters.
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