Moreover Arthur Wells averred that in case of a battle, the advantage would not be with the destroyers, despite their large crews, and many guns.

Hence, if we did not succeed this night, the campaign would end in failure.
Arthur Wells knew Black Rock Creek thoroughly, having hunted there more than once.

It was bordered in most places with sharp rocks against which the waters of the lake beat heavily.

Its channel was some thirty feet deep, so that the "Terror" could take shelter either upon the surface or under water.

In two or three places the steep banks gave way to sand beaches which led to little gorges reaching up toward the woods, two or three hundred feet.
It was seven in the evening when our carriage reached these woods.
There was still daylight enough for us to see easily, even in the shade of the trees.