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6o A HISTORY OF CHILE took up a position on a neighboring mountain, and there formed the plan of turning at night the waters of a branch of the Mataquito upon Pedro's camp. The encampment might have been flooded, had the young commander not been informed by a spy in time to retire to Santiago and thus escape the disaster. Villagran, having recovered from his sickness, marched against Lautaro with a little army consisting of 196 Spaniards and looo Indian auxiliaries. To effect a surprise of the Araucanian intrenchments, a secret route was taken by the seashore. At break of day Lautaro was aroused by his sentinels, and going to the side of the fortification to look at the approach- ing enemy, was pierced by a dart, fired by one of the Indian auxiliaries, and fell dead in the arms of his companions. A fierce combat ensued, in which the Araucanians fought like wild beasts until all of them had been slain. The Spaniards lost heavily, but returned vic- torious to the capital, where for three days the fall of Lautaro was celebrated. And well they might cele- brate his fall, for this young man at the age of nine- teen was a veritable young Hannibal. The "Chilean Hannibal" he has been not unworthily called. Caupolican, learning of the death of Lautaro and the defeat of the troops sent against Santiago, at once abandoned the siege of Imperial, which was opportune for the besieged, as they were reduced to extremities. These are substantially the more important events of the year 1556. In April, 1557, Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza arrived in the bay of Concepcion to take charge of the government of Chile, having been appointed captain- general by his father, the viceroy of Peru. As will be remembered, Francisco de Villagran, was one of