’''Mí', í í,
448 L A U T A R O V A L D I V I a ’ s D E A T T t .
to no cautions. The three thousand Indians, supposed to
be friendly, accompanied him to the battle but turned against
him: and his own page, Lautaro, who there immortalized bis
name among his countrymen, was the first to set the example
and proved himself tbe most daring in tbe fight. (It should
be mentioned that Lautaro’s servitude was compulsory, having
been brought up against his inclination, in the Spaniard’s
house.)* Onward dashed Valdivia, at the head of his small
band, and was speedily surrounded by a countless throng.
Hemmed in on every side, and overpowered by men who till
then used to fly from a man in armour and mounted on a horse,
all that desperate brave men could do, was done: but their
horses tired, slaughter appeared to diminish neither the number
nor rage of their opponents, and one after another sunk to the
ground. Valdivia’s chaplain fell the last, except the general
himself, who fought like a lion at bay: till, seeing that he
was alone, he turned and fled. The goodness of his horse
enabled him to escape for a little while, but he was hunted by
the swiftest and strongest, whose speed exceeded that of a
tiring horse. His steed failed, and he was taken prisoner to be
tortured and put to death, after suffering every torment that
savage ingenuity could devise. When he was at the stake, the
rage of the older Indians could not be repressed ; and an aged
man named Leocato, who had suffered long and severely by
Spanish oppression, struck him on the head with his club, and
at one blow deprived him of life.
Although surrounded by a multitude, so resolute and
energetic were the companions of Valdivia, that they were
actually gaming the day, until Lautaro rallied the retreating
Indians, and by his heroism turned the tide of victory against
the Spaniards. The natives’ superstitious awe of these superior
men, once thought gods, added to their being mounted on
* Lautaro was the son of an Araucanian chieftain, who fell in battle
against the enemies of his race. Though brought up and educated in
the family of Valdivia, from a mere child, he had never ceased to long
for an opportunity of turning his forced acquirements to the disadvantage
of his instructors, and revenging the death of his father.
horseback and clad in armour, were such immense advantages,
that to oppose the progress of a few resolute Spaniards even
by the numbers of a multitude, was a daring effort.
In consequence of this and many subsequent acts of valour
and conduct, the young Lautaro became a most celebrated
leader, and was chosen by Caupolican as his lieutenant and
successor.
But I must return to the banks of the Leiibu, which we
were approaching as fast as our tired horses could drag their
hoofs through deep, loose sand, when a solitary light moving
on the dark side of the opposite high land, showed the place
where our countrymen w'ere anxiously waiting for assistance :
we had heard that their encampment was under Tucapel
Heights, and close to the river’s mouth.
As soon as we arrived at the water side, I hailed as loudly
as I could call, but no answer was returned. Again I hailed
“ Challenger’s a-hoy,” and a faint ‘ hallo ’ repaid us for every
difficulty. “ Send a boat !” I called. “ Aye, aye !” echoed from
the hills. Lights appeared directly coming down the h ill: a little
boat came across the river, and very soon we were embarked
in the Challenger’s dinghy,* the only boat saved. Tlie master
and one man were in her, from whom we heard that all the
party were well, and that they had not yet been molested by
natives.
Captain Seymour was at the landing place. Old friends,
meeting under such circumstances, can say but little. Hastening
to the encampment, where all bad turned out to hear
the welcome news of assistance being at hand, we made their
hearts rejoice by saying that the Blonde was at Talcahuano,
and coming to their relief. With the oificers, I found our
excellent consul, Mr. Rouse.# At the first intimation of the
Challenger’s loss, he had hastened to the spot without an hour’s
delay ; well aware how useful his influence and information
would prove, and supposing that the officers would not be
* At midnight. The horses were sent back to the Indian huts, with
whose owners our guide held such noisy intercourse as ive passed,
t H. B. Majesty’s consul at Concepcion.
V O L . I I . 3 G
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