380 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



Wherever they passed, there did the fight augment 

 in obstinacy and fury. Suddenly there was a violent 

 rush upon the bridge, a frightful outcry, and a clash 

 of steeL At the same moment the blades of several 

 swords and daggers were seen crossed and glittering 

 upon the bridge, without its being possible for any 

 one to divine whence the weapons came. The 

 spectators, seized with a panic fear, fled in every 

 direction, and sprang in crowds from the quays to 

 seek shelter under the awnings of the gondolas cover- 

 ing the canal. In vain did the gondoliers resist the 

 intrusion of the fugitives : all considerations of rank 

 and property were lost sight of in the terror of the 

 moment, and some of the boats sank under the weight 

 of the multitudes that poured into them. In their 

 haste to get away, the gondolas impeded each other, 

 and became wedged together in the canal ; and amidst 

 the screams of the ladies and angry exclamations of 

 the men, the gondoliers laid down their oars and 

 began to dispute the precedence with blows. Mean- 

 while the people on the roofs of the houses, believing 

 themselves in safety, espoused different sides, and 

 threw stones and bricks at each other, and at those 

 standing below. In an incredibly short time houses 

 were entirely unroofed, and a perfect storm of tiles 

 rained upon the quays and streets. Those who had 

 first fled, when they attained what appeared a safe 

 distance, halted to look on, and thus prevented others 

 from getting away. Antonio was amongst the num.- 



