title: The Lion of St. Mark: A Tale of Venice in the 14th Century (Works of G. A. Henty)
author:  G. A. Henty 
description: G. A. Henty's life was filled with exciting adventure. After completing his work at Westminster School, he attended Cambridge University, where he undertook a rigorous course of study and also enjoyed boxing, wrestling, and rowing. The strenuous study and healthy, competitive participation in sports prepared Henty for his adventures. To name just a few, he fought with the British army in the Crimea, served as a war correspondent during Garibaldi's fight for independence in Italy, visited Abyssinia, witnessed the Franco-Prussian war while in Paris, observed the Carlists in Spain, attended the opening of the Suez Canal, toured India with the Prince of Wales (later Edward II), and visited the California gold fields.
zlib_text: SIG.NOR
  POLANI
  ACCOMPANIES
  FRANCIS
  TO
  "THE
  STEPS-
  
  THE LION OF ST. MAKE
  A TALE
  OF VENICE.
  BY
  G.
  A. HENTY,
  Author
  of "Bounle Prince Charlie;-' " For tho Temple;" "By Sheer Pluck;"
  "With Clire in India; " *c.
  WITH TEN FULL-PAGE
  ILLUSTRATIONS
  BY GORDON BROWNE.
  LONDON:
  BLACKTE
  A
  SON,
  49
  &
  50 OLD BAILEY,
  E.C.
  GLASGOW,
  EDINBURGH,
  AND
  DUBLIN.
  1889
  
  PREFACE.
  My dear Lads,
  Of all
  the
  chapters
  of history
  there
  are
  few more
  in
  teresting or wonderful
  than that which
  tells the story of
  the
  rise and progress
  of Venice.
  Built upon a few sandy islands in
  a shallow lagoon,
  and originally founded by fugitives from the
  mainland, Venice became one of the greatest and most respected
  powers
  of Europe.
  She
  was
  mistress
  of
  the
  sea;
  conquered
  and ruled over a considerable
  territory bordering on the Adri
  atic;
  checked
  the rising
  power of the Turks;
  conquered
  Con
  stantinople;
  successfully defied
  all
  the
  attacks
  of her jealous
  rivals to shake
  her power;
  and
  carried
  on
  a trade
  relatively
  as great
  as that of Englan