24^ 



governor, undaunted by the recollection of the 

 misfortunes which had befallen his countrymen in 

 that ill-omened place, put himself at the head of 

 one thousand Spaniards and a large number of 

 auxiliaries, and immediately marched thither, 

 resolving to dislodge the enemy, or at least to 

 keep them besieged. 



After having given the necessary orders, he 

 began at day-break to defile the difiicult ascent 

 of the mountain, leading the advanced guard 

 in person, in front of which he had placed twenty 

 half-pay officers, well experienced in this kind of 

 war. Scarcely had he ascended half way, when 

 he was attacked with such furyby Quintuguenu, 

 that a general of less talents would have been 

 driven headlong down with all his troops ; but, 

 animating his men by his voice and example, he 

 sustained for more than an hour the terrible en- 

 counter of the enemy, till having gaihed step by 

 step the level ground, he succeeded in forcing 

 them into their entrenchments, without however 

 being able to break their order. 



The Araucanians, mutually exhorting each 

 other to die with glory, defended their camp 

 with incredible valour until mid-day, when Don 

 Carlos Irrazabal, after an obstinate resistance, 

 finally forced the lines on the left with his com- 

 pany. At the same time the quarter-master and 

 Don Rodolphus Lisperger, a valiant German 

 officer, penetrated with their brigades in front 



