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!’