Long ago, when sailing ships ruled the waves, a
captain and his crew were about to be boarded by a
pirate ship. As the crew became frantic, the captain
bellowed to his First Mate, ‘Bring me my red shirt!’
The First Mate quickly retrieved the captain’s red
shirt, which the captain put on and led the crew to
victory.
Later that day, the lookout screamed that there was
another pirate ship on the horizon. The crew shivered
in fear, but the captain, calm as ever bellowed,
‘Bring me my red shirt!’ And once again the battle was
on. Another victory!
That night, weary from the battles, the men sat around
on deck recounting the day’s occurrences. An ensign
looked to the Captain and asked, ‘Sir, why did you
call for your red shirt before the battle?’
The Captain, giving the ensign a look that only a
captain can give, exhorted, ‘If I am wounded in
battle, the red shirt does not show the blood and thus
you men will continue to fight unafraid.’ The men sat
in silence, marveling at the courage of such a man.
As dawn came the next morning, the lookout screamed
that there was a pirate ship on the horizon. Then
another! And another, ten of them in all!
The men became silent and looked to the Captain for
his usual command.
The Captain, calm as ever, bellowed, ‘Bring me my
brown trousers!’
