About
nine o'clock A.M.
That the ship destroyed was Dirk Hatteraick 's , no one doubted . His lugger was well known on the coast , and had been expected just at this time . A letter from the commander of the king 's sloop , to whom the Sheriff made application , put the matter beyond doubt ; he sent also an extract from his log-book of the transactions of the day , which intimated their being on the outlook for a smuggling lugger , Dirk Hatteraick master , upon the information and requisition of Francis Kennedy , of his Majesty 's excise service ; and that Kennedy was to be upon the outlook on the shore , in case Hatteraick , who was known to be a desperate fellow , and had been repeatedly outlawed , should attempt to run his sloop aground . About nine o'clock A.M. they discovered a sail , which answered the description of Hatteraick 's vessel , chased her , and after repeated signals to her to show colours and bring-to , fired upon her . The chase then showed Hamburgh colours , and returned the fire ; and a running fight was maintained for three hours , when , just as the lugger was doubling the Point of Warroch , they observed that the main-yard was shot in the slings , and that the vessel was disabled . It was not in the power of the man-of-war 's men for some time to profit by this circumstance , owing to their having kept too much in-shore for doubling the headland . After two tacks , they accomplished this , and observed the chase on fire , and apparently deserted .