William Hope Hodgson

“ The next instant the second mate hurled himself among them. He had the battered steel door for a weapon, and the edge of it was as a plowshare amidst soil.
Amid the cries of the men, the side of the house rang out a dull thunder beneath the weight of some blind, misdirected blow.
Most of the men escaped upon their hands and knees, creeping out behind the man who smote and smote. They got to the forecastle upon all fours, too terrified and bewildered even to get to their feet. ”

“ The berserker rage eased out of the second mate and he perceived that the house was empty, and the mutiny truly ended. He cast the heavy steel door clanging through the open doorway, out on to the main deck, a dripping testimony of a man's prowess against enormous odds. ”

“ It was evident that Pathan was not going to head the attack, and he might die without ever getting his hands on to him.
From the irresolute men came a shuffle of feet. Then a man's voice rose--
"Trow de flare into ze hoose."
To the second mate the remark suggested a course of action. He threw himself upon a sea-chest, so that his face could be seen from the doorway. He kept perfectly still. If the man threw the flare into the house they would see his damaged face and think him dead. It might be that the coward Pathan would venture to come into the place--then! ”