The army crossed the desert with the rapidity of lightning, scarcely tasting a drop of water.

The sufferings of the troops were frequently expressed by discouraging murmurs.
On the first night a mistake occurred which might have proved fatal.
We were advancing in the dark, under feeble escort, almost sleeping on our horses, when suddenly we were assailed by two successive discharges of musketry.

We aroused ourselves and reconnoitred, and to our great satisfaction discovered that the only mischief was a alight wound received by one of our guides.

Our assailants were the division of General Desaix, who, forming the advanced guard of the army, mistook us for a party of the enemy, and fired upon us.

It was speedily ascertained that the little advanced guard of the headquarters had not heard the "Qui vive ?" of Desaix's advanced posts.
On reaching Damanhour our headquarters were established at the residence of a sheik.