It was this part of Venice, the home of the poorer folk, which suffered most from the earthquake, that had scarcely touched many of the finer quarters.

Still, it was reckoned afterward that in all it took a toll of nearly ten thousand lives.
Turning from this street, they made their way to the banks of a great canal that here ran into the harbour, that on which they had been rowed to the Place of Arms.

Here by good luck they found a small boat floating keep uppermost, for it had been overturned by the number of people who crowded into it.

This boat they righted with much toil and discovered within it a drowned lady, also an oar caught beneath the seat.

After this their dreadful journey was easy, at least by comparison.