2S6 



he prevailed upon those Cliiiians who were intM 



service of the Spaniards to set fire to the houses 



of tlieir masters at a certain hour of the night, 



when he would he ready with his array at the 



gates. The plan being accordingly executed, he 



entered the city amidst the confusion,, occupied 



the several quarters of it with a thousand foot 



and a hundred horse, and began to make a dread* 



ful slaughter of the citizens, who, in flying from 



the flames, fell into his hands. The garrison in 



vain attempted to oppose his progress; nor would 



any have escaped the sword on that fatal night, 



had not by good fortune the governor accidentally 



arrived there two hours before the attack. He 



immediately hastened at the head of his guard 



to the different places that were attacked, and 



with wonderful presence of mind collected the 



dispersed inhabitants, and conducted them to the 



citadel. From thence he sallied out with the 



most determined of them, and attacked the enemy, 



whom he obliged to retire at day-break. The 



Araucanians had become much less scrupulous 



than formerly in their mode of making war, for 



Cadeguala was not abandoned by ai-y of his 



ofiBcers on this occasion, as Caupoliran had been 



at Canete in his fraudful surprise of that city. 



Although this daring enterprise had not been 

 accompanied with the success which the Arau- 

 canian general expected, yet, far from being dis- 

 couraged by it, he undertook the siege of the 



