French Foreign Legion

Expecting it to be a mirage, the captain, 2nd officer and the rest of the men trudge wearily down the side of the hill.  To their delight, however, the town is real and a small caravan of nomadic tribesmen has set up a market.

The legionnaires enter the market, hoping to quench their first.  They go to the first stall and the captain says to the stall holder "We are the French foreign legion and we have been lost in the desert for 9 days. We must have water and will pay any price."  

The nomad simply shrugs his shoulders and says "I have no water. I have only sponge cake."  

Disappointed, the legionnaires move to the next stall and the captain again demands "We are the French foreign legion and we have been lost in the desert for 9 days. We must have water and will pay any price."  

The second stall holder simply shrugs and says "Alas, I have no water. All I have is cold custard."  

The legionnaires decide to try the third stall and, once again, the captain accosts the nomadic tribesman minding the stall and demands "We are the French foreign legion and we have been lost in the desert for 9 days. We must have water and will pay any price."  

The third stall holder shakes his head slowly with a frown on his face. "I have no water to sell", he says, "All I have is strawberry jelly".  

Despairing, the legionnaires try the final stall. Again, the captain demands water from the stallholder and again the tribesman cannot oblige. "Alas, my stall has only whipped cream for sale. That, and little multi-colored sprinkless. I have no water."  

The legionnaires give up hope at this point and decide to set of in search of water at an oasis or another town. As they walk back up the hill, out of the valley and away from the market, the captain turns to his 2nd officer and asks "is it just me, or did you find that a little odd, number two?".  

To which the 2nd officer replies: "It was a trifle bazaar, sir!"