2o8 ovalle's historical relation of chile. 



Caupolican being informed. of thefe fufpicions of his own people, called a new 

 affembly, in which he propofed methods of carrying on the war, fo as they migh t 

 obtain an entire liberty. This was unanimoufly agreed to, with a firm refolution 

 of not giving it over till they either conquered or died. This refolution coming to 

 the knowledge of the governor Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendo9a, who was gone, as 

 we have feen to the city of the Imperial, to fortify it, he difpatched to the fort advice of 

 what paffed, and fent them a competent relief. 



Amongft other defigns pitched upon by Caupolican, the firfl was to furprize the 

 Spaniards in their fortrefs by a ftratagem before they were aware of him, and fo 

 mailer the place. The other captains of repute, Rengo, Orompello, and Tucapel, 

 who were ufed to lead always the van-guard, did not approve of his projedl ; and fo 

 let him go by himfelf with his own forces, they fcorning, as they faid, to obtain a 

 vidory by fraud or furprize. Caupolican let out then by himfelf; arid being come 

 within three leagues of the Spanilh fortrefs, he fent out his fpies to obferve their difpo- 

 fition, and how they might be moft eafily circumvented. He chofe for this purpofe 

 one of his bed captains, whofe name was Pran, a cunning fagacious man, and prudent, 

 with a great deal of ready wit. This captain difguifed himfelf; and putting on the 

 habit of an ordinary Indian, he went alone, and without arms, as a private perfon, to 

 the fortrefs of the Spaniards. He entered the fort without fufpicion, or being known 

 by the other friendly Indians, vdth whom he foon grew acquainted ; and walking up 

 and down, hb obferved our camp and forces, and took particular notice of the time of 

 day that our men ufed to be leaft upon their guard, which was generally at noon, 

 when they went to ileep, to repair their ftrength, which was wafted by their nights 

 watches. 



There was in the Spanifh fort a young Indian, (not like Lautaro, in whom the love 

 of his country prevailed over his duty to his mafter,) but of another temper ; his name 

 was Andres, fervant to a Spanifh gentleman, and very much inclined to all the Spa- 

 nifh nation. Pran had made a great friendfhip with this young man ; and one day, as 

 they were going together in the fields to feek out fome provifion, as they ufed to do, 

 talking from one thing to another, Pran difcovered himfelf entirely to his friend Andres ; 

 perfuading him to help on the defign he came about, fmce upon its fuccefs the liberty 

 of the whole nation depended. Andres, who was not lefs fagacious and prudent than 

 pran, promifed him all he could defire : but diffembled all the while. This being 

 fettled, they agreed, that each of them Ihould return home to his camp, and that the 

 next day Andres fhould come to a certain poft they agreed on, and there Pran 

 fliould meet him, and carry him to Caupolican's quarters, where he might fettle all 

 matters with him. Pran went back to the Indians' camp, overjoyed that he had fuc- 

 ceeded fo well, as he thought : he gave a particular account of all the bufmefs to 

 Caupolican, while Andres did the fame to Captain Reynofo, who commanded in the 

 Spanilh fort. If God Almighty had not by this way delivered the Spaniards out of 

 this imminent danger, they mufl have perifhed ; for naturally Andres ought to have 

 been of the fide of his own countrymen. 



According . to what had been agreed between them, Andres came the next day to 

 the affignation, where he met with his friend Pran ; and they went together to Caupo- 

 lican, who received them with all demonftrations of joy and confidence, fhewing him 

 his camp and all his army ; the refult was, that he fhould aifault the Spaniards the next 

 day about noon. Andres went back to the Spaniards, to inform them of all that paffed, 

 an4 by that Captain Reynofo knew how to difpofe every thing to receive the attack. 

 Caupolican came at the time appointed with all his Indians, the greateft part of which 



were 



