210 



ample, he sustained for more than an hour the ter- 

 rible encounter of the enemy, till having gained step 

 by step the level ground, he succeeded in forcing 

 them into their intrenchments, without however be- 

 ing able to break their order* 



The Araucanians, mutually exhorting each other 

 to die with glory, defended their camp until mid- 

 day with incredible valour, when Don Carlos Irra- 

 zabal, after an obstinate resistance, finally forced the 

 lines on the left with his company. At the same 

 time the quarter- master and Don Rodolphus Lis- 

 perger, a valiant German officer, penetrated with 

 their brigades in front and on the right. Quintu^ 

 guenu, although surrounded on every side, render- 

 ed for a long time the event of the battle doubtful. 

 He maintained his troops in good order, and con- 

 jured them not to dishonour by^n ignominious de- 

 feat a place that had so often witnessed the victories 

 of their ancestors. Whilst he flew from rank to rank 

 animating his men, and constantly confronting the 

 enemy, he fell, pierced with three mortal wounds 

 by the governor, who had singled him out and taken 

 aim at him. The last word he uttered was an 

 enthusiastic exclamation of liberty. 



On seeing him dead, a part of his soldiers in des- 

 pair suffered themselves to be cut in pieces, and the 

 rest betook themselves to flight. Almost all the 

 auxiliaries were slain, but of the Spaniards it is said 

 that only twenty fell in the battle ; of which number 

 was a Portuguese knight of the order of Christ, who 

 was slain in the beginning of the conflict. 



