152 



driven back to the mountain, so thát the assailants 

 were placed between two fires. They nevertheless 

 lost not their courage, and continued fighting till 

 mid day. At length, extremely fatigued with the 

 length of the combat, they withdrew to the Bio-bio 

 with a determination to raise new forces and return 

 to the attack. 



Caupolican having in a short time reinforced his 

 army, began his march towards Conception, but 

 learning on thp road that the Spaniards had re- 

 ceived a numerous reinforcement, he halted on the 

 shore of the Bio- bio, deeply chagrined at not being 

 able to effect what Lautaro had twice performed 

 with the universal applause of the nation. In fact, 

 the day preceding two thousand auxiliaries had ar- 

 rived at Conception, with the cavalry, from Peru, 

 consisting of a thousand men well armed, and like- 

 wise another squadron of Spanish horse from Im- 

 perial. 



After his army had sufficiently recovered from 

 their fatigues, Don Garcia resolved to go in quest of 

 the Araucanians in their own territory. For this 

 purpose he crossed the Bio-bio in boats well equip- 

 ped, at six miles from its mouth, where that river is 

 fifteen hundred paces broad. Caupolican made no 

 attempt to obstruct his passage, as the cannon, placed 

 ^ upon the boats, commanded the whole of the oppo- 

 site shore ; but he had occupied a position not far 

 distant, flanked with thick woods, which, if defeat- 

 ed, would facilitate his retreat. 



The battle began with a skirmish that was favour- 

 at)le to the Araucanians. The Spanish advanced 



