In truth, the destroyers would have had to be submarines to attack the "Terror" with any chance of success.
And I know not, if even in that case, the contest would have been equal.
Meanwhile, it seemed to me evident that the commanders of the two ships had been warned, perhaps by Mr.Wells who, returning swiftly to Toledo, might have telegraphed to them the news of our defeat.

It appeared, moreover, that they had seen the "Terror," for they were headed at full speed toward her.

Yet our captain, seemingly giving them no thought whatever, continued his course toward the Niagara River.
What would the torpedo destroyers do?
Presumably, they would maneuver so as to seek to shut the "Terror" within the narrowing end of the lake where the Niagara offered her no passage.
Our captain now took the helm.

One of the men was at the bow, the other in the engine room.

Would the order be given for me to go down into the cabin?
It was not, to my extreme satisfaction.