There were three legionnaires walking through the desert under a baking sun.
They were fully equipped with enough water for days, and had plenty of food.
On the shimmering horizon mirages came and went and came again, visions of
swimming pools attended by dusky maidens, stalls full of ice-cream,
sorbets, freshly-whipped smoothies of every conceivable flavour.
But all to no avail, as the legionnaires did not crack, but kept marching
solidly on.
Suddenly one of them froze, "Psssst" said he.
His companions halted, and strained their eyes to where the first
legionnaire was pointing.
"Le voila", said he, "Regardez, mes amis, isn't zat a bacon tree on ze 'orizon"?
And sure enough, there it stood, proud and defiant in the middle of the
desert, a true bacon tree.
Slowly they crept forward towards the mystery object far off, inch by
inch, centimetre by centimetre, until they were within a stone's throw of
the bacon tree.
Even nearer they crept, and suddenly, a shot rang out, dropping one of the
legionnaires in his tracks.
The other legionnaires hit the ground as bullets thudded into the sand
around them.
The other two returned fire, and gave first aid to their wounded
companion.
Even as they bandaged him, and poured water over his face, they could hear
his faint voice:
"Zat was no bacon tree," he gasped, "Zat was an 'am bush."