Captain's Secret

You can't go to the bank today - it's Columbus Day. If Columbus came to you for financing for a trip to find a shortcut to the bank he would end up at Taco Bell, and send back glowing reports about the bank he had found. And unlike the captain in our story today, his crew was generally on the verge of mutiny!

One of the world's most famous merchant captains died, having long been admired by his crew and fellow officers.

They remained puzzled, however, over a strange ritual he performed daily. While at sea he would lock himself in his cabin and open a small safe, take out an envelope with a note inside and read it. After locking the paper back in the safe, he would return to his duties.

For years this went on, and his crew became very curious. Was it a treasure map? Was it a letter from a long lost love? Everyone speculated about the contents of the strange envelope.

After laying the captain's body to rest, the first mate led the entire crew back to the ship and into the captain's quarters. He opened the safe, got the envelope and read the words aloud to an astonished crew:

'Port: Left, Starboard: Right.'