52 



vision or dream of his from which he is roused by the somid of an 

 alarm. He snatches up his arms, and hurries to his post : the 

 morning dawns, and the Indians begin to attack the fort. 



CANTO XIX. 



THE Indians advance in three squadrons. The Youth GracG- 

 lano o'erleaps the trench, supported on a lofty pike, by which he 

 also passes the wall. He defends himself in the midst of the Spa- 

 niards v/ith great spirit ; but, finding himself unsupported, he 

 wrenches a lance from a Spanish soldier, and tries to leap once 

 more over the trench ; but he is struck by a stone while vaulting 

 through the air, and ialls, covered, as the Poet expressly declares, 

 with two-and-thirty wounds. Some of his friends are shot near 

 him but the Indians get possession of the Spanish lance with 

 which he had sprung over the wall, and brandish it in triumph. 

 The Spaniard, named Elvira, who had lost his weapon, piqued 

 by the adventure, sallies from the fort, and returns, amid the shouts 

 of his countrymen, with an Indian spear which he w^on in single 

 combat from a Barbarian, whom he had perceived detached from 

 his party. The Indians attempt to storm the fort on every side: 

 nrduy are destroyed by the Spanish fire arms. The head of the 

 ancient VetegueJen is shot off; but Tucapel passes the wall, and 

 rushes Avith gi'ieat slaughter into the midst of the enemy. The 

 Spaniards who were in the ships that anchored near the coast hasten 

 on shore, and march to assist their countrymen in the fort, but are 

 attacked by a party of Indians in their march. The conflict continues 

 furious on the wails; but the Indians at length retreat, leaving 

 Tucapel still fighting within the fort. 



CANTO XX. 



TUCAPEL, though severely wounded, escapes with life, and 

 rejoins the Indian army, which continues to retreat. The Spaniards 

 sally from the fort, but soon return to it, from the apprehension of 

 an ambuscade. They clear their trench, and strengthen the 

 weaker parts of their fortification. Night comes on. The Poet 

 describes himself as stationed on a little eminence in the plain below 

 the fort, which was seated on high and rocky ground : fatigued 



