The guns of the burning vessel discharged themselves as the fire reached them; and they saw her at length blow up with a great explosion.

The sloop of war kept aloof for her own safety; and, after hovering till the other exploded, stood away southward under a press of sail.

The Sheriff anxiously interrogated these men whether any boats had left the vessel.

They could not say, they had seen none; but they might have put off in such a direction as placed the burning vessel, and the thick smoke which floated landward from it, between their course and the witnesses' observation.
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.