169 



of men under the command of Millalaucb, to oppose 

 the attempts of Reynoso. Don Garcia, however, 

 being informed of his march, withdrew to Imperial, 

 after having placed two hundred horse in ambush 

 on the road by which he was to pass. The Arauca- 

 nian general, although unexpectedly attacked by 

 them, defended himself with such presence of mind, 

 that he not only escaped without loss, but cut in 

 pieces a great part of his assailants, and pursued the 

 rest to the gates of Imperial, which he girt with a 

 close siege. 



In the mean time Reynoso and Millalauco, who 

 had several times encountered each other in skir- 

 mishes, agreed to terminate the question of su- 

 periority between them by single combat. Such 

 duels had become very common during that war. 

 The two champions fought a long time without 

 either obtaining "the advantage, till, wearied and fa- 

 tigued, they separated by mutual consent, and re- 

 turned to their former mode of warfare. 



The siege of Imperial was prosecuted with much 

 vigour. Caupolican had made several assaults upon 

 that city, flattering himself with the aid of the Span- 

 ish auxiliaries, which, uncautioned by the misfor- 

 tunes of his father, he had solicited by means of 

 two of his officers, Tulcomaru and Torquin. These 

 emissaries were, hovrevcr, discovered and impaled 

 in sight of the Araucanian army, to whom they 

 recommended with their last breath to die in de- 

 fence of the liberties of their country. 



Vol. II. Y 



