Falou made his dromedary kneel down, climbed upon his hump, and started him off at a trot.
"I am off," he shouted.
And he was in fact already some distance off. The next evening he appeared again.
"The admiral is following me," he shouted.
The admiral arrived during the night. Bonaparte had not retired and Ganthéaume found him writing.
"You will prepare," said Bonaparte, "two frigates, the 'Muiron' and the 'Carrière,' and two smaller vessels, the 'Revanche' and the 'Fortune,' with provisions enough to last forty or fifty men two months. Not a word about it to any one. You are to come with me."
Ganthéaume withdrew, promising not to speak of it.
Bonaparte sent for Murat.
"Italy is lost," said he; "the wretches! They have wasted the fruits of our victories. We must go. Select five hundred men for me." Then, turning to Roland, he added: "You will see that Falou and Faraud are included in the detachment."