pecially valuable in a
city like Venice, where private enmities and private feuds are carried
to so great an extent. Already your name is in every mouth. Your rescue
of Pisani, when sorely beset by the enemy, has been the theme of talk
in every house; and this feat, which retrieves, to some extent, the
misfortune of Pola, will make your name a household word in Venice."

Immediately after the battle of Pola, the Venetians had entered into
negotiations with Hungary, to endeavour to detach that power from the
league against them. But the demands of King Louis were too extravagant
to be accepted. He demanded the cession of Trieste, the recognition of
the suzerainty of his crown on the part of the present doge, and all
his successors, an annual tribute of one hundred thousand ducats, and
half a million of ready money. This demand was so excessive that, even
in their distress, the Venetians refused to accept it, and hastened on
their preparations for a struggle for life or death.

Fortunately, the Genoese continued for three months, after their
success at Pola, to capture the outlying possessions of Venice, instead
of striking at the capital. Towards the end of July, seventeen Genoese
vessels appeared off Pelestrina, burned a merchant ship lying there,
and spent the day in reconnoitring positions, and in taking soundings
of the shallows and canals off Brondolo. They then sailed away for
Dalmatia. In less than a week six galleys again hove in sight; and
Admiral Giustiniani, who was in supreme command of the forces, issued
out from the Lido, with an equal number of ships, to give them battle.

On his way, however, a black object was seen in the water. As they
neared it, this was seen to be the head of a swimmer. He was soon
picked up, and was found to be a Venetian citizen, named Savadia, who
had been captured by the enemy, but had managed to escape, and was
swimming towards land to warn his countrymen that the whole Genoese
fleet, of forty-seven sail, under Pietro Doria, was close at hand; and
that the six ships in the offing were simply a decoy, to tempt the
Venetians to come out and give battle.

Giustiniani at once returned to port, and scarcely had he done so, than
the whole Genoese fleet made its appearance. They approached the
passage of the Lido; but the respite that had been afforded them had
enabled the Venetians to make their preparations, and the Genoese
found, to their disappointment, that the channels of the L