orkmen 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 t