242 



dispatching him was assigned as a mark of honour, 

 declared that he had consented to it with the utmost 

 reluctance, ar.d only to avoid quarrclHng with his 

 commander. 



The go\eniOr havir.g left to the quarter-master, 

 Fernando St a, the charge of guarding the Bio-bio, 

 with ti.irtecn Junidred Spaniards and six hundred 

 •aaxHiaries, withdrew to Santiago, where he raised 

 two companies of inumtry and one of cavahy. At 

 the same time he received from Peru five hundred 

 veteran soldiers. With these troops, and those 

 M'hom lie found upon the frontier, having formed a 

 sufficient army, he proceeded immediately to the fort 

 of Arauco, which lie knew was menaced by Puta- 

 picliion. That indefatigable general had indeed 

 commenced his march for that place with seven 

 thousand chosen troops whose valour he thought 

 nothing was able to resist. But intimidated by some 

 superstitious auguries of the Ex-Toqui Lientur, 

 who had resolved to share with liim the glory of the 

 enterprise, the greater part of them forsook him on 

 the road. Not discouraged by this desertion, and 

 observing that in war there could be no better omen 

 than an eager desire to conquer, he continued his 

 march w^ith thirty-two hundred of the most deter- 

 mined who ^vere resolved to follow him, and en- 

 camped at a short distance from the fort. Some of 

 his officers advised him to attack it that same night, 

 but he declined it, as well for the purpose of resting 

 his troops, as not to give the enemy occasion to re- 

 proach him with always taking advantage, like a 

 robber, of dwrkness to favour his operations. 



