242 



dispatching him was assigned as a mark of honour^ 

 declared that he had consented to it with the utmost 

 reluctance^ and only to avoid quarrelling with his 

 commander. 



The governor having left to the quarter-master, 

 Fernando Sea, the charge of guarding the Bio- bio j 

 with thirteen hundred Spaniards and six hundred 

 auxiliaries, withdrew to Santiago, where he raised 

 two companies of infantry and one of cavalry. At 

 the same time he received from Peru five hundred 

 veteran soldiers. With these troops, and those 

 whom he found upon the frontier, having formed a 

 sufficient army, he proceeded immediately to the fort 

 of Arauco, which he knew was menaced by Puta- 

 pichion. That indefatigable general had indeed 

 commenced his march for that place with seven 

 thousand chosen troops whose valour he thought 

 nothing was able to resist. But intimidated by some 

 superstitious auguries of the Ex-Toqui Lientur, 

 who had resolved to share with him the glory of the 

 enterprise, the greater part of them forsook him on 

 the road. Not discouraged by this desertion, and 

 observing that in w ar there could be no better omen 

 than an eager desire to conquer, he continued his 

 march with thirty-two hundred of the most deter- 

 mined who were resolved to follow him, and en- 

 camped at a short distance from the fort. Some of 

 his officers advised him to attack it that same night, 

 but he declined it, as well for the purpose of resting 

 his troops, as not to give the enemy occasion to re- 

 proach him with always taking advantage, like a 

 robber, of darkness to favour his operations. 



