is own opinions. The Venetians had a mischievous habit,
which was afterwards adopted by the French republic, of fettering their
commanders by sea and land by appointing civilian commissioners, or, as
they were termed in Venice, proveditors, who had power to overrule the
nominal commander. When, therefore, Pisani assembled a council of war,
and informed them of his reasons for wishing to remain on the defensive
until the return of Zeno, he was overruled by the proveditors, who not
only announced themselves unanimously in favour of battle, but sneered
at Pisani's prudence as being the result of cowardice. Pisani in his
indignation drew his sword, and would have attacked the proveditors on
the spot, had he not been restrained by his captains.

However, the council decided upon instant battle, and Pisani was
forced, by the rules of the service, at once to carry their decision
into effect. Ascending the poop of his galley, he addressed in a loud
voice the crews of the ships gathered around him.

"Remember, my brethren, that those who will now face you, are the same
whom you vanquished with so much glory on the Roman shore. Do not let
the name of Luciano Doria terrify you. It is not the names of
commanders that will decide the conflict, but Venetian hearts and
Venetian hands. Let him that loves Saint Mark follow me."

The men received the address with a shout, and as soon as the
commanders had regained their galleys, the fleet moved out to attack
the enemy. The fight was a furious one, each vessel singling out an
opponent and engaging her hand to hand.

Carlo Bottini was killed early in the fight, and Francis succeeded to
the command. His galley had grappled with one of the largest of the
Genoese vessels, and a desperate conflict went on. Sometimes the
Venetians gained a footing on the deck of the Genoese, sometimes they
were driven back, and the Genoese in turn poured on board, but no
decisive advantage was gained on either side after an hour's fighting.
The Genoese crew was numerically much stronger than that of the Pluto,
and although Francis, with Matteo and his comrades, headed their men
and cheered them on, they could make no impression on the ranks of the
enemy.

Suddenly, the Genoese threw off the grapnels that attached the two
ships, and hoisting their sails, sheered off. Francis looked round to
see the cause of this sudden manoeuvre, and perceived for the first
time that the Genoese vessels were all in flight,