By the arrangements of the Venetians, the bulk of the Crusaders were transferred to a camp prepared for them on the island of San Nicolo. Villehardouin and the leaders and chief barons were carried on the Doge's state barge to the Palace of St. Mark. As the Marshal went aboard, he called to the comrades standing on the bank: "Give me the pleasure of your company to-morrow noon, fair sirs. I will make you known to His Magnificence the Doge. It may be he can aid you on your way." "We will not forget, Lord Marshal," answered Hugh. With a chorus of farewell shouts from the other knights, the barge shoved off, and the comrades were left surrounded by the ferrymen, each one vociferously demanding the task of carrying them across the lagoons to the city. "What are we to do?" asked Hugh of Matteo in bewilderment. "Know you where we may come by a night's lodging?" "That do I," returned the jongleur promptly. "Be at your ease." He snapped an order in the lingua franca--that polyglot tongue which was the universal medium of intercourse along the polyglot shores of the Mediterranean,--cuffed one ferryman out of the path, thrust the butt of his lance at a second. A way was cleared for them, and they rode to where the various craft were drawn up against the bank. Matteo studied the boats separately, and finally selected one which looked a trifle less shabby than its rivals. "This will do," he announced. "Come, varlet, be about your business. We have tarried over-long." The ferryman jumped to obey, drove off his jealous fellows with a wide sweep of his long oar, and then assisted Ralph to lead the horses on board. Presently, they floated from the bank and began to creep over the placid water towards the glowing outline of Venice. As they drew near the city, and its colours and architecture became distinct, Hugh exclaimed in admiration: "Never thought I there could be aught so beautiful as this! And the churches! They are frequent as inns." "It is a great city," agreed Matteo. "After Constantinople, mayhap, the richest in the world. Here you will find men from every country, even the Saracens--yes, and from beyond their lands--and all men meet here in peace to trade and exchange their goods." "Where are we going?" "To the fondaco of one Messer Annibale Ziniani, who tradeth with the merchants of Tripoli and Antioch. I am not unknown to him. He will give us right good shelter, and perchance can find us a ship for Constantinople. These merchants each know what the other does. 'Tis their way." The ferryman and his crew pushed lustily at their huge sweeps, and the flat-bottomed craft forged ahead at a surprising pace. They struck across the lagoons at right angles to the course taken by the flotilla which had borne the Crusaders to San Nicolo, and soon made the entrance to a lane of water which led between the outer groups of buildings in what might be termed the suburbs of the island city. "They have no walls!" marvelled Hugh.