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There was once a bold captain, who was well know by his crew for his courage and fighting skills. He had more than once successfully led his men against pirates attempting to board his ship.
He had one idiosyncrasy. When a fight seemed likely, he would always call to his cabin boy to bring him his scarlet jacket, which he would wear into battle.
One day his first mate asked him to explain about the jacket. "It's simple.", said the captain. "Don't tell the men, but if they were to see me injured, it might dishearten them. So I wear a scarlet jacket to hide the blood from any wound I might take."
And then, on one voyage carrying a rich cargo, disaster struck — not one pirate ship, but five, sailing directly towards the captain's ship.
"Never mind lads!" says the captain, "we're the boldest crew on the seas, we'll see them all off!"
And to his cabin boy he says "Boy, fetch me my scarlet jacket — and my brown trousers."
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