A swashbuckleling captain of a pirate ship spots three enemy vessels approaching his. He orders one of his underlings to prepare to board the vessels and to bring him his red shirt.
They board the enemy vessels and emerge victorious. Later, as they celebrate the victory, one of the men asks the captain why he wanted his red shirt.
The captain replied: "I didn't want you to see me bleed if I were cut".
A week later, the captain spots an armada of 20 enemy ships. He orders his underling to fetch his brown pants.