179 



distance, aud would come to meet him the fol- 

 lowing day. The Spaniards, who could not con- 

 ceive the motive of the message, were alarmed, 

 and passed the whole night under arms. 



At day-break Caupolican appeared with his 

 army arranged in three lines. The Spanish ca- 

 valry charged with fury the first line, com- 

 manded by Caupolican in person, who gave or- 

 ders to his pikemen to sustain with levelled spears 

 the attack of the horse, and the mace bearers 

 with their heavy clubs to strike at their heads. 

 The cavalry by this unexpected reception being 

 thrown into confusion, the Araucanian general, 

 followed by his men, broke into the centre of 

 the Spanish infantry with great slaughter, killing 

 five enemies with his own hand. Tucapel, ad- 

 vancing in another quarter with his division, at 

 the first attack broke his lance in the body of a 

 Spaniard, and instantly drawing his sword, slew 

 seven others. In these various encounters he re- 

 ceived several severe wounds, but perceiving the 

 valiant Rencu surrounded by a crowd of enemies, 

 he fell with such fury upon them, that after 

 killing a considerable number, he rescued his 

 former rival, and conducted him safely out of 

 danger. 



Victory, for a long time undecided, was at 

 length on the point of declaring for the Arauca- 

 nians, when Don Garcia perceiving his men 

 ready to give way, gave orders to a body of re- 



n2 



