212 



example, tliej'- would confront all dangers to defend 

 him, and to revenge the outrages which he might 

 suffer. The prince, irritated by this reply, devoted 

 himself to the service of the Spaniards, and served 

 them as a guide in the pursuit of his people. 



At this period, 1592, there was among the Arau- 

 canians a Spaniard who had been made prisoner in 

 one of the former battles, and who by his ingratiating 

 manners had obtained the esteem and confidence of 

 the principal men of the nation. This man, either 

 from gratitude for the treatment he had received, or 

 at the instigation of the governor, applied himself to 

 eíFect a treaty of peace with great hopes of success, 

 bpt the preliminary conditions proposed by him not 

 proving agreeable to either of the parties, all his en- 

 deavours were inefiectual. The governor, irritated 

 at the ill success of his proposals set out on his 

 march with all his army, for the province of Tucapel, 

 laying waste with fire and sword all that fell in his 

 way. 



Paillaeco, who had been elected Toqui in place 

 of Quintuguenu, thinking himself not sufficiently 

 strong to oppose the enemy openly, resolved to draw 

 them into an ambuscade. For" this purpose he pla- 

 ced a hundred men on horseback at the entrance of a 

 wood, witiiin which he had concealed the remainder 

 of his forces, with orders for them to counterfeit 

 flight on the appearance of the enemy. This scheme 

 at first promised success ; the Spaniards pursued 

 them, but discovering in time that it was only a strat- 

 agem, they turned back and pretended to fly them- 



