the engagement became general, and the Spaniards, furnished with superior weapons, made great slaughter among their enemies. The Araucanians had no fire-arms, but fought with swords, lances and clubs. Valdivia displayed great bravery, and encouraged his troops by his voice and example. Rank after rank of the Indians was mowed down by the musketry and artillery of the Spaniards, but they continued to supply their places with fresh troops. At length, their repeated losses dismayed the Indians, and they began to give way in disorder. Caupolican, Tucapel, and the veteran Colocolo, attempted in vain to arrest their flight. The Spaniards shouted "Victory!" and the day had been irretrievably lost to the natives, had not an unexpected incident suddenly turned the tide of war against the conquerors.

At the moment when the victory seemed decided, an Araucanian youth, of sixteen, suddenly rushed out from the Spanish ranks, and with a loud voice reproached his countrymen for their cowardice, and exhorted them to the fight. This was Lautaro, the page of Valdivia, a captive of the Spaniards, who had been baptized as a Christian. The sight of his countrymen in arms, flying in disorder before their enemies, had aroused all the patriotic feeling of this noble and intrepid youth, and the national spirit instantly extinguished every spark of attachment to his adopted masters. Grasping a lance, he turned against the advancing Spaniards, crying, "Follow me, my countrymen, to victory!" Instantly, as if inspired by a supernatural accession of courage, the dispirited and flying Araucanians turned upon their

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enemies, and renewed the attack with such unexpected fury, that the Spaniards, exhausted with fatigue, could not resist the shock; their whole army was put to the rout and completely dispersed. Valdivia was taken prisoner, and brought before Caupolican. The Spanish general did not disdain to solicit his life, in the humblest manner, at the hands of the savage conqueror, promising to quit Chili with all his forces. Lautaro seconded his request, and Valdivia would have been spared; but, while the officers were deliberating, an old Ulmen, more ferocious than the rest, exclaimed that it was madness to trust to the promises of the perfidious Spaniards, and instantly despatched the unfortunate prisoner with a blow of his club. It is added by the historian, that, as a reproach to his avarice, the Indian poured melted gold down his throat; but it is not improbable that this is a fiction borrowed from classical history.

The battle of Tucapel was fought on the 3d of December, 1553. Never was a victory more complete than this, which had been gained by the wild Araucanians, over the disciplined bands of the Castilian invaders. Caupolican, although highly exasperated at the conduct of the Ulmen, dared not punish him as he wished. A joyous festival, on the following day, crowned the success of the conquerors. Games and diversions were exhibited in a spacious meadow, surrounded by tall trees, to which were suspended the heads of the slaughtered Spaniards. An immense crowd of people, from the neighboring country, flocked to the place to witness the trophies of a victory over an army, which, till then, had

been considered invincible. The officers, in token of triumph, wore the clothes of their slain enemies; and Caupolicar arrayed himself in the armor and surcoat, embroidered with gold, which had been worn by his formidable enemy, Valdivia.

Consternation spread throughout the Spanish settlements in Chili at the news of the battle of Tucapel. The minor posts were immediately abandoned, and the inhabitants fled to the towns of Imperial, Valdivia and Concepcion, which were now the only places in possession of the invaders. Caupolican determined instantly to lay siege to them. He appointed Lautaro his lieutenant-general, and despatched him to defend the northern frontier. This young chieftain took post upon the lofty mountain of Mariguena, on the road leading from the north to the province of Arauco, which it was supposed the Spanish army would traverse, if they designed to attack Caupolican. This mountain, which has on several occasions proved fatal to the Spaniards, has on its summit the wide plain of Andalican, abounding with trees. Its sides are full of clefts and precipices; the eastern slope is covered with an impenetrable thicket, and its rocky base on the west is beaten by the ocean-surf. A winding and narrow path, on the north, is the only road leading to the summit of the mountain.

The chief command of the Spaniards devolved upon Francisco Villagran. This general, having collected a considerable army, in which were included a number of auxiliary Indians, began his march for Arauco. He crossed the Biobio without opposition; but a short distance farther south, in a narrow pass,

he encountered an advanced body of Araucanians, despatched by Lautaro, to harass him on his approach. After a severe action of three hours, the natives retreated, fighting, toward the summit of the mountain, where the main body had fortified themselves by a strong palisade. The Spaniards began the attack with three squadrons of cavalry, which attempted to force the difficult passage of the mountain. This body, after great labor, arrived within a short distance of the summit, when they were greeted with a shower of stones, arrows, and other missiles, which brought them to a stand. Lautaro, finding the enemy in check, despatched several parties to the right and left, with the design of surrounding the assailants. Villagran, seeing his danger, ordered up his musketeers, and opened a general fire from the infantry and six field-pieces, which he had now brought to bear on the Indian camp. The battle raged fiercely; the mountain was covered with smoke, and echoed with the roar of the fire-arms; the shot flew thick around them, but the Araucanians bravely maintained their post.

The advantage of fire-arms, however, being exclusively on the side of the Spaniards, the effects soon began to be felt. The incessant cannonade made a serious slaughter in the camp; and Lautaro, perceiving that the chief execution was performed by the artillery, determined upon a bold attempt to capture it. He selected one of his bravest officers, named Leucoton, and ordered him to advance with his company, upon the field-pieces, and not presume to see him again till he had made himself master of them.