Page:A history of Chile.djvu/82

70 A HISTORY OF CHILE conflict ensued in which the Spaniards were cut to pieces and utterly defeated. Tucapel chased Reynoso and a few of his followers across the Biobio ; these were all who escaped the slaughter. Reynoso collected another army and returned to the contest, but was again defeated by the young Arau- canian general. Young Caupolican, encouraged by his successes, was about to proceed against Concep- cion, when Millalauco arrived", bringing information that Don Garcia had quitted Imperial with troops and was attacking the Indian provinces. Caupolican there- upon went to the assistance of hiS' friends and allies and, although caught in an ambush prepared for him by the way, yet defeated his assailants and then pushed forward rapidly to Imperial, whither Don Garcia had retired with his troops. Caupolican now besieged the city, but with poor success. Then he sent two emissaries as spies to solicit the aid of the Spanish auxiliaries, but the plot was discovered and the emissaries impaled within the walls, together with one hundred and twenty of the treacherous auxiliaries. Assault after assault was next made and such deeds of heroism performed as have immortalized the plains of Troy ; and yet Imperial held out. Caupolican at length withdrew his army and effected a junction with the troops he had left behind to oppose Reynoso. Numerous battles occurred within the month which followed, in some of which Caupolican was victorious; but in the end he was at a disadvantage, for his warriors were decreased in number by the constant fighting, while the Spanish commander constantly received recruits both from Spain and from Peru. Seeing that his heroic resistance was of little avail, the Araucanian general fortified himself in a place