watch, had retired to take their siesta. The crafty Chilian highly praised his project, and offered himself to keep a gate open on the day assigned for the enterprise. The Araucanian, elated with joy, hastened to give information to Caupolican, who was at a short distance, and Andrew proceeded immediately to disclose the plot to the commander of the fort, who directed him to keep up the deception by appearing to carry it on, in order to take the enemy in their own snare.

Caupolican, occupied with an ardent desire of accomplishing this enterprise, lost sight on this occasion of his wonted prudence, and too easily reposed faith in this ill-concerted scheme. In order the better to devise his measures, he expressed a wish to converse with the Chilian; Pran immediately gave notice to his supposed friend, who appeared before Caupolican with all that air of respect and flattering show of attachment which villains of this stamp know so well to assume. He broke out into invectives against the Spaniards, whom he said he had always detested, and renewed his promise, declaring that nothing could be easier than the execution of the plot. The Araucanian general applauded his patriotism, loaded him with caresses, and promised to give him, if the enterprise should succeed, an Ulmenate with the office of first captain of his army. He then showed him his troops, appointed the next day for the execution of their scheme, and dismissed him with the strongest demonstrations of esteem and favour. The Spaniards, informed of all, em

* Afternoon sleep.

ployed that night in making every preparation to obtain the greatest possible advantage from the treachery of their ally.

When the principal officers of the Araucanians were informed of the intention of their general, they openly disapproved of it, as dishonourable and disgraceful to the national spirit, and refused to accompany him in the expedition. Adhering, nevertheless, with obstinacy to his design, he began his march at day break, with three thousand men for Canete, in the vicinity of which he lay concealed until the time appointed, when Pran came to inform him from Andrew that all was ready. The Araucanians then proceeded in silence to the city, and finding the passage free, began to enter it. But the Spaniards having allowed entrance to a certain number, suddenly closed the gate, and at the same moment commenced a fire with grape shot from all their cannon upon those without.

Dreadful was the slaughter made among them, and the more so as it was wholly unexpected. The horse then made a sally from another gate, and completed the destruction of those who had escaped the fire of the cannon. Caupolican had the fortune, or rather misfortune, to escape the general slaughter of his men. He retired with a few attendants to the mountains, whence he hoped soon to descend with a new army capable of maintaining the field. While the cavalry were giving a loose to their fury on those without, the infantry were employed in butchering those within the walls, who, having lost all hope of escape, rather chose to be cut in pieces than to sur

render themselves. The too credulous Pran, perceiving his error, rushed amongst the foremost against his enemies, and by an honourable death escaped the well merited reproaches of his imprudence. Among the few who were taken prisoners were three Ulmenes, who were fastened to the mouths of cannon and blown into the air.

CHAPTER VII.

Expedition of Don Garcia to the Archipelago of Chiloé; Foundation of Osorno; Caupolican taken and impaled.

DON GARCIA, considering the Araucanian war as terminated after this destructive battle, ordered the city of Conception to be rebuilt; and, desirous of adding to the laurels of a soldier those of a conqueror, so highly valued in that age, in 1558 marched with a numerous body of troops against the Cunches, who had not yet been opposed to the Spanish arms. This nation, when they first heard of the arrival of the strangers, met to deliberate whether they should submit, or resist their victorious forces. An Araucanian exile, called Tunconobal, who was present at the assembly, being desired to give his opinion upon the measures proposed, replied in the following terms:

"Be cautious how you adopt either of these measures; as vassals you will be despised and compelled to labour, as enemies you will be exterminated. If you wish to free yourselves of these dangerous visitors, make them believe you are miserably poor Hide your property, particularly your gold; they will not remain where they have no expectation of finding that sole object of their wishes. Send them such a present as will impress them with an idea of your poverty, and in the mean time retire to the woods."

The Cunches approved the wise counsel of the Araucanian, and commissioned him, with nine natives of the country, to carry the present which he had recommended to the Spanish general. Accordingly, cloathing himself and companions in wretched rags, he appeared with every mark of fear before that officer, and after complimenting him in rude terms, presented him a basket containing some roasted lizards and wild fruits. The Spaniards, who could not refrain from laughter at the appearance of the ambassadors and their presents, began to dissuade the governor from pursuing an expedition which, from all appearances, would prove unproductive. But although he was persuaded that these people were poor and wretched, yet, lest he should discover too great facility in relinquishing his plan, he exhorted his troops to prosecute the expedition that had been undertaken, assuring them that, further on, according to the information he had received, they would find a country that abounded in all the metals. This was a circumstance by no means im

probable, it being very usual in America after passing frightful deserts to meet with the richest countries. He then inquired of the Cunches the best road to the south. Tunconobal directed him towards the west, which was the most rough and mountainous, and on being applied to for a guide, gave him one of his companions, whom he charged to conduct the army by the most desolate and difficult roads of the coast. The guide pursued so strictly the instruction of the Araucanian, that the Spaniards, who in their pursuit of conquest were accustomed to surmount with ease the severest fatigues, acknowledged that they had never before, in any of their marches, encountered difficulties comparable with these. Their impatience was greatly augmented on the fourth day, when their pretended guide quitted them, and they found themselves in a desert surrounded by precipices, from whence they perceived no way to extricate themselves. All their constancy and perseverance would have been insufficient to support them, if Don Garcia had not incessantly encouraged them with the flattering hope of soon reaching the happy country which he had promised them.

Having at length overcome all obstacles, they came to the top of a high mountain, from whence they discovered the great Archipelago of Ancud, more commonly called Chiloé, whose channels were covered with a great number. of boats navigated with sails and oars. This unexpected prospect filled them with joy. As they had for many days suffered from hunger, they hastened to the shore, and were