147 



a similar fate. Meanwhile Tucapel, who com- 

 manded the left wing of the Araucanians, began 

 the attack upon his side with his usual impetu- 

 osity. The action now became general; the 

 Spaniards, furnished with superior arms, and 

 animated hy the example of their valiant leader, 

 who performed the duty of a soldier as well as 

 that of a general, overthrew and destroyed whole 

 ranks of their enemies. But the Araucanians, 

 notwithstanding the slaughter made among them 

 by the cannon and musketry, continued con- 

 stantly to supply with fresh troops the places of 

 those that were slain. Three times they retired 

 in good order beyond the reach of the musketry, 

 and as often, resuming new vigour, returned to 

 the attack. At length, after the loss of a great 

 number of their men, they were thrown into dis- 

 order and began to give way. Caupolican, Tu- 

 capel, and the intrepid Colocolo, who was pre- 

 sent in the action, in vain attempted to prevent 

 their flight and reanimate their courage. The 

 Spaniards shouted victor}-, and furiously pressed 

 upon the fugitives. 



At this momentous crisis, a young Araucanian 

 of but sixteen years of age, called Lautaro, 

 whom Valdivia in one of his incursions had 

 taken prisoner, baptized, and made his page, 

 quitted the victorious party, began loudly to 

 reproach his countrymen with their cowardice, 

 and exhorted them to continue Uie contestp as the 



