Quotation from: Elsinore

Written by: Jack London

"Here, you, get a swab and mop that up," I commanded in my harshest
manner.

Tom Spink merely rolled his quid with his tongue and regarded me with
sneering thoughtfulness. I am sure he was no more surprised than was
I by the immediateness of what followed. My fist went out like an
arrow from a released bow, and Tom Spink staggered back, tripped
against the corner of the tarpaulin-covered sounding-machine, and
sprawled on the deck. He tried to make a fight of it, but I followed
him up, giving him no chance to set himself or recover from the
surprise of my first onslaught.