cavalry alone were able to save themselves from slaughter.

Young Villagran, receiving new reinforcements, returned three times to the attack of Lautaro's camp, but being constantly repulsed with loss, he encamped his army in a low meadow, on the shore of the Mataquito. The Araucanian general, who occupied a neighbouring mountain, formed the plan of inundating at night the Spanish encampment, by turning upon them a branch of the river. But this bold design, which would have insured the destruction of the Spaniards, failed of success, as Villagran, being informed of it by a spy, retired a short time before it was carried into execution with his army to Santiago.

The elder Villagran having recovered his health, and strongly solicited by the citizens, who every moment expected to see the Araucanians at their gates, at length, in 1556, began his march with 196 Spaniards and 1000 auxiliaries in search of Lautaro. But too well remembering the defeat of Mariguenu, he resolved to attack him by surprise. With this intent he quitted the great road, secretly directed his march by the sea shore, and, under the guidance of a spy, by a private path came at day break upon the Araucanian encampment.

Lautaro, who at that moment had retired to res after having been upon guard, as was his custom during the night, leaped from his bed at the first alarm of the sentinels, and ran to the intrenchments to observe the enemy. At the same time a dart, hurled by one of the Indian auxiliaries, pierced his

heart, and he fell lifeless in the arms of his companions. It would seem that fortune, hitherto propitious, was desirous by so sudden a death to save him from the mortification of finding himself for the first time in his life defeated. It is, however, not improbable that his genius, so fertile in expedients, would have suggested to him some plan to have baffled the attempts of the assailants, if this fatal accident had ..not occurred.

Encouraged by this unexpected success, Villagran attacked the fortification on all sides, and forced an entrance, notwithstanding the obstinate resistance of the Araucanians, who, retiring to an angle of the works, determined rather to be cut to pieces than to surrender themselves to those who had slain their beloved general. In vain the Spanish commander repeatedly offered them quarter. None of them would accept it excepting a few of the neighbouring Indians, who happened accidentally. to be in their camp. The Araucanians perished to the last man, and fought with such obstinacy that they sought for death by throwing themselves on the lances of their enemies.

This victory, which was not obtained without great loss by the victors, was celebrated for three days in succession in Santiago, and in the other Spanish settlements, with all those demonstrations of joy customary upon occasions of the greatest success. The Spaniards felicitated themselves on being at last freed from an enemy, who at the early age of nineteen had already obtained so many victories over their nation, and who possessed talents capable of

entirely destroying their establishments in Chili, and even harassing them in Peru, as he had resolved upon when he had restored the liberty of his native country.

As soon as the terror inspired by this young hero had ceased with his life, the sentiments of hostility, as almost always happens, were succeeded by those of generosity. His enemies themselves highly applauded his valour and military talents, and compared him to the most celebrated generals that have appeared in the world. They even called him the Chilian Hannibal, from a fancied resemblance between his character and that of the famous Carthaginian general, although, in some respects, it had a much greater similarity to that of Scipio. To use the words of the Abbé Olivarez-" It is not just to depreciate his merit whom, had he been ours, we should have elevated to the rank of a hero. If we celebrate with propriety the martial prowess of the Spanish Viriatus, we ought not to obscure that of the American Lautaro, when both contended with the same valour in the cause of their country."

The Araucanians for a long time lamented the loss of their valiant countryman, to whom they owed all the success of their arms, and on whose conduct and valour they entirely relied for the recovery of their liberties. His name is still celebrated in their heroic songs, and his actions proposed as the most glorious model for the imitation of their youth. But above all, Caupolican felt this fatal loss: As he was a sincere lover of his country, far from thinking he had freed himself from a rival, he

believed he had lost his chief co-operator in the glorious work of restoring his country. As soon as he received the mournful news, he quitted the siege of Imperial, which was reduced to the last extremity, and returned with his army to the frontiers to pro-. tect them from the incursions of the enemy, who, he had learned from his spies, expected a large supply of men and warlike stores from Peru, with a new commander.

CHAPTER V.

Don Garcia de Mendoza arrives at Chili, with a reinforcement of troops; His expedition against Caupolican.

PHILIP the Second, who had succeeded his father Charles the Fifth on the throne of Spain, having learned the death of Valdivia, gave in charge to his agent Alderete, the government and the conquest of Chili, furnishing him for this purpose with six hundred regular troops. During the passage his sister, who was accustomed to read in bed, set fire by accident to the ship in the vicinity of PortoBello. Of the whole number, Alderete and three soldiers were all that escaped, and he himself soon after, overcome with grief and disappointment, died

in the little island of Taboga in the gulph of Panama.

The Marquis of Canete, viceroy of Peru, being informed of this disaster, appointed to the vacant office his son Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza. But as this charge had now become very dangerous, he resolved that at his departure he should be accompanied by a body of troops capable of supporting him, and acquiring him, if possible, the glory of terminating with success the obstinate war with the Araucanians. With this view he caused a great number of recruits to be raised throughout his extensive viceroyalty. The civil dissentions being at an end, Peru at that time abounded with military adventurers who were desirous of employment. Of course he was in a short time joined by a large number of soldiers, part of whom from a warlike spirit, and others from a desire to obtain favour with the viceroy, offered to fight under the banners of his son.

The infantry, well equipped and appointed with a great quantity of military stores, embarked on board of ten ships under the command of Don Garcia in person, and the cavalry pursued their way by land under the orders of the quarter-master-general, Garcia Ramon. "The fleet arrived in April, 1557, in the bay of Conception, and came to anchor near the island of Quiriquina, which, being the most secure situation, had been chosen for the head quarters. The few inhabitants who were found there bravely attempted to prevent the disembarkation ; but being soon dispersed by the artillery, they retired