20-4 OVALLE S HISTORICAL RELATION OF CHILE. 



When the news of this refolution came to St.Jago, many looked upon it as a fable, 

 not being capable of imagining that the Indians had boldnefs enough to march fo 

 far to attack them ; but thofe who were come back from the city of the Conception 

 undeceived them, as knowing by experience Lautaro's courage ; they therefore fortified 

 the place, and provided it : they alfo fent out parties to engage the enemies, if the 

 occafion offered : but Lautaro forced them to return in hafte to carry the news, and 

 yet fome remained behind too. 



Francifco de Villagran, the lieutenant-general, was fick at this time ; and fo fent his 

 coufin Pedro de Villagran, with all the force he could make, to meet Lautaro ; they 

 lodged within half an hour from the fort which the Indians had raifed upon the Rio 

 Claro ; the next day they entered the fort without any refiflance ; for Lautaro had 

 cunningly ordered his men to feem to fly, that he might catch the Spaniards in the 

 fort ; and fo, when he faw his time, he gave the fignal, and his men fell on the 

 Spaniards like lions, who had enough to do to make their retreat, and efcape from 

 their hands. The Indians followed them for a league, doing them much mifchief, 

 though they defended themfelves with great valour. Lautaro feigned a fecond time to 

 fly ; and our people being reinforced, engaged him a-frefti. They attacked his fort, 

 and gave three aflaults to it ; where they were received with fhowers of arrows, darts, 

 and ftones, and at lafl forced to retire to a valley ; whence they defigned to return, 

 and try their fortune again : but Lautaro faved them the trouble ; for refolving to 

 make an end of them all at once, and in order to it feigning that he wanted provifions, 

 he fent to our camp to demand fome. His project was to let in a river upon the Spa- 

 niard's camp, which he could do conveniently, becaufe it was already in dams and 

 canals ; and fo having made a marfh of the ground where they lodged, fo as they 

 fhould not be able tQ ftir, feize all the pafles behind them. But Villagran having 

 difcovered this llratagem, raifed his camp, and retired to St. Jago, to the great difap- 

 pointment of the enemy. 



Yet this did not make Lautaro give over his defign ; for confidering that he could 

 not attack St. Jago, which was well provided with men and ammunition, except he 

 had a greater ftrength, he raifed a fort in a valley to cover himfelf, while his fuccours 

 fhould arrive, and enable him to attack St. Jago. Thofe of the city were making, 

 with great care, preparations for their defence ; and had fent for fuccours to all the 

 Other cities. Their general Villagran had fent out upon this defign ; and making as 

 if he was going to Arauco, had on a fudden marched to the Imperial, from whence 

 he brought many good men away with him ; and while Lautaro was raifmg his 

 fort, Villagran, guided by an Indian, came fwiftly and filently upon Lautaro, and 

 attacked his fort. In the firft aflault that was given, Lautaro himfelf fell, wounded by 

 an arrow which ftruck him to the heart ; thus ended that valiant captain of the Arau- 

 canos. Hts foldiers were not at all difcouraged with this misfortune of their general ; 

 but rather enraged with fuch a lofs, and a defire to revenge his death, they fell like 

 lions upon the Spaniards, taking no quarter at their hands. There were on both fides 

 great adions performed ; but the refolution of the Indians was the nobleft in the world, 

 preferring their glory to their lives, which they hufbanded fo little, that though they 

 were broke, and but few left in a fighting condition, yet they ran upon the Spaniards* 

 lances, and with their hands pulled them into their bodies, to come clofe to their ene- 

 my, and revenge their death with his, or at lead die in the attempt. 



CHAP. 



