One day, back in the time of sailing ships, the lookout of a British patrol ship shouted down to the captain "two pirate ships to starboard!"

The captain said to his first mate "go to my cabin and get my red shirt." The first mate comes back and helps the captain change shirts. The captain commands them through battle with the pirates successfully. Back at port, one of the crew asks the captain why he put on a red shirt. "The odds were against us two to one, and if were wounded in battle, I did not want you to see the blood stain on my shirt so that you would not lose hope and fight on to victory." The crew were impressed.

The next day on patrol, the lookout shouted down to the captain "ten pirate ships to port!!!"

The captain looked to his first mate and said "go get my brown pants."