The captain has good news and bad news. The Egyptian royal barge returns to harbour after a long day ferrying the pharaoh up and down the Nile. The captain says to the tired oarsmen 'Right, lads, I've got good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?' The oarsmen consult among themselves and decide they fancy some good news first. 'The good news,' says the captain, 'Is that from now on your rations are doubled. The oarsmen cheer and start talking excitedly amongst themselves. 'The bad news,' says the captain, 'Is that Pharoah wants to try water-skiing.'