135 



countered a body of Araucanians, by whom he was 

 vigorously opposed. But after a severe action of 

 three hours they were defeated and withdrew, con- 

 stantly fighting toward the summits where Lautaro, 

 defended by a strong palisade, awaited their ap- 

 proach with the residue of his army. Three com- 

 panies of Spanish horse were ordered to force the 

 difficult passage of the mountain, and having, after 

 great labour and fatigue, arrived within a short dis- 

 tance of the summit, they were received with a 

 shower of stones, arrows and other missive weapons 

 which were incessantly poured upon their heads. 

 Villagran, in the mean time, perceiving that several 

 parties were detached from the camp of the enemy, 

 with an intention of surrounding him, ordered the 

 musketry to advance, and the fire to commence from 

 six field pieces, which he had placed in a fa vourable 

 situation to annoy them. 



The mountain w^as covered with smoke, and re- 

 sounded with the thunder of the cannon and the 

 whistling of bullets that fell upon every side. But 

 Lautaro, in the midst of this confusion, firmly main- 

 tained his post ; and perceiving that his principal 

 loss proceeded from the cannon, he directed Leuco- 

 ton, one of his bravest captains, to go with his com- 

 pany and take possession of them, commanding him 

 at the same time, with an authority derived more 

 from his high reputation than his office, not to ven- 

 ture to see him again until he had executed the or- 

 der. That valiant officer, in defiance of death, 

 rushed with such violence upon the corps of artillery, 

 that after a furious and bloody contest, he carried off 

 all the cannon in triumph. 



