166 



change of countenance, or abatement of his wonted 

 dignity, coolly addressed Reynoso in these words : 

 *' My death, general, can answer no possible end, 

 except that of inflaming the inveterate hatred which 

 my countrymen already entertain against yours. 

 They will be far from being discouraged by the loss 

 of an unfortunate chief. From my ashes will arise 

 many other Caupolicans, who will prove more for- 

 tunate than I have been. But if you spare my life, 

 from the great influence I possess in the country, 

 I may be serviceable to the interests of your sove- 

 reign and the propagation of your religion, which, 

 as you say, is the only object of this destructive 

 war. But if you are determined that I shall die, 

 send me to Spain, where, if your king thinks proper 

 to condemn me, I may end my days without caus- 

 ing new disturbances in my country." 



Vain were the attempts of the unfortunate general 

 to prevail upon Reynoso, whose name is held in 

 detestation, not only by the Araucanians, but by the 

 Spaniards themselves, who have ever reprobated his 

 conduct, as contrary to those principles of genero- 

 sity on which they pride themselves as a nation. 

 He ordered the sentence to be immediately execut- 

 ed ; and a priest, who had been sent for to converse 

 with the prisoner, pretending that he had converted 

 him, hastily administered the sacrament of baptism. 



After this mock ceremony, he was conducted, 

 amidst a crowd of people, to a scaflTold that had been 

 erected for his execution : But when he saw the 

 instrument of punit^hment, which until then he did 

 not clearly comprehend, and a negro prepared to 

 execute him, he was so exasperated that, with » 



