147 



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. 



>««^b 



CHAPTER V. 



JDon Garcia de Mendoza arrives at Chili^ -with a 

 reinforcement of troops ; His expedition against 

 Caupolican. 



PHILIP the Second, who had succeeded his fa- 

 ther Charles the Fifth on the throne of Spain, hav- 

 ing learned the death of Valdivia, gave in charge to 

 his agent Alderete, the government and the cour^ 

 quest 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 Porto- 

 Bello. Of the whole number, Alderete and three 

 soldiers were all that escaped, and he himself soon 

 after, overcome with grief and disappointment, died 



