At length, Napoleon stood up and gave the order for the column to prepare to march. ‘Tell them, one more day and then we’ll camp on the bank of the Nile.Then they can drink as much water as they want.’

As the men rose up stiffly and took their places in the marching column a rider suddenly crested the dune a short distance along the track and galloped towards Napoleon and his staff officers. He slewed his foaming horse to a halt and stretched out an arm towards Napoleon as he offered him a folded dispatch.

‘From General Desaix, sir. He begs you to read it at once.’

Napoleon hurriedly broke the seal, opened the sheet of paper out and scanned the hurriedly composed message, then looked up at the messenger. ‘Tell General Desaix we will reach him tomorrow night. Until then he is to do nothing but rest his troops. Understand?’

‘Yes, sir.’

As the messenger turned his horse back down the track and spurred it into a trot Napoleon gestured to Berthier. ‘Ride ahead with me.’

The two officers urged their mounts forward until they were well out of earshot of the others.Then Napoleon slowed the pace to a walk and spoke quietly.‘Desaix says his men are on the verge of mutiny.’

‘Mutiny?’

‘Quiet, you fool!’ Napoleon glanced round anxiously and then continued. ‘The men refuse to go on. Their representatives have demanded that the army retreats to Alexandria and abandons the campaign. Even worse, some of the senior officers are backing their demands.’

‘Who, sir?’

‘General Mireur, and two colonels.’

‘What will you do, sir?’

Napoleon shrugged.‘I’m not sure, yet. By rights I should have them shot. Them and all the other ringleaders. I must restore discipline at any cost. But I’ll need to handle the situation very carefully.’ He thought a moment longer and then nodded to himself as he made a decision. ‘Berthier, I’m going to ride on ahead. I’ll take a small escort and find Desaix. I’m leaving you in command. Make sure the column does not stop until it reaches the Nile. Clear?’

‘Yes, sir.’

They exchanged a salute and then Napoleon pointed back to the squadron of mounted scouts. ‘You . . . and you. Follow me!’