155 



rdered the musketry to advance, and the fire to 

 commence from six field pieces, which he had 

 placed in a favourable situation to annoy them. 



The mountain was covered with smoke, and 

 resounded with the thunder of the cannon and 

 the whistling of bullets that fell upon every side. 

 But Lautaro, in the midst of this confusion, 

 firmly maintained his post ; and perceiving that 

 his principal loss proceeded from the cannon, he 

 directed Leucoton, one of his bravest captains, 

 to go with his company and lake possession of 

 them, commanding him at the same time, with an 

 authority derived more from his high reputation 

 than his office, not to venture to see him again 

 until he had executed the order. That valiant 

 officer, in defiance of death, rushed with such 

 violence upon the corps of artillery, that after a 

 furious and bloody contest, he carried off all the 

 cannon in triumph. 



In the meantime Lautaro, to prevent the Spa- 

 niards from sending succours to their artillery, 

 attacked them so vigorously with all his troops, 

 that, driving horse and foot in confusion before 

 him, the Spaniards were thrown into disorder, 

 and unable to recover their ranks, precipitately 

 betook themselves to flight. Of the Europeans 

 and their Indian allies, three thousand were left 

 dead upon the field. Villagran, having fallen, 

 was on the point of being taken prisoner himself^ 

 when three of his soldiers, by almost incredible 



