143 



rected to keep their arms concealed among the 

 bundles of grass, and to maintain possession of 

 the gate of the fortress until he could come to 

 their assistance with his army. 



The pretended foragers performed their parts 

 so well, that without the least suspicion they 

 were admitted into the fortress. Immediately 

 they seized their armS;, attacked the guard, and 

 began to kill all that came in their way. The 

 remainder of the garrison, under the command of 

 Francis Reynoso, hastened, well armed, to the 

 scene of tumult, opposed them vigorously, and 

 after an obstinate contest, drove them from the 

 gate at the very moment of the arrival of the 

 Araucanian army ; so that they had but just 

 time to raise the draw-bridge and hasten to the 

 defence of the walls. Although Caupolican was 

 disappointed in his expectations, he hoped, how- 

 ever, to derive some advantage from the con- 

 fusion of the enemy, and, encouraging his soldiers, 

 assailed the fortress upon every side, notwith- 

 standing the continual lire of the besieged from 

 two cannon and six field pieces. But perceiving 

 that he lost a great number of men, he resolved 

 to turn the assault into a blockade, expecting to 

 reduce the place by famine. 



After various unsuccessful sallies, in which they 

 lost many of their companions, the Spaniards re- 

 solved! to abandon the fort, and retire to that of 

 Puren. This measure had indeed become neces- 



