I pulled the sword from beside my hip and hacked away
at the ropes that moored my blue-prowed ship of war
and shouted rapid orders at my shipmates:
"Put your backs in the oars – now row or die!"

– Homer

The Odyssey, Book 10, lines 138-141. After the giant Laestrygonians eat most of Odysseus’ crew, the quick thinking hero springs into action and rescues one ship and some of his men.