Page:A history of Chile.djvu/65

Rh told, to 200 Spaniards and four or five thousand Indian auxiliaries.

When well on the march Diego del Oro was sent forward to reconnoitre the enemy's position. This entire company of men, consisting of ten cavalrymen, were slain by Caupolican's troops, their heads cut off and suspended from trees by the roadside. The spectacle served the purpose for which it was intended: it filled the minds of the Spanish soldiers with horror, and many of them desired to return to Concepcion. But Valdivia was rash, as well as valiant, and pushed forward, though probably ten thousand Araucanian Indians were under arms ready to oppose him. On December 3rd, 1553, the Spaniards came in sight of the Indians at Tucapel. There the two armies manceuvred for some time for position within full view of each other. Mariantu commanded the right wing of the Araucanian army, the fiery Tucapel, the Marat of the Araucanians, after whom the province of Tucapel had been named, led the left wing.

Mariantu began the battle, moving against Bovadilla, who commanded the Spanish left. These Spaniards were immediately surrounded and cut in pieces.

A detachment sent to reinforce the left was in a like manner annihilated. Tucapel now began an impetuous attack upon the Spanish right, and the fight thereupon became general along the whole line. The Spaniards mowed down the ranks of the Indians, but they quickly filled the gaps with fresh men from their reserves. Valdivia fought as a common soldier, animating his troops by his heroic example. Three times the Indians retired in order and reorganized out of range of the artillery, and then returned to the combat; but the slaughter was too great and at last they gave way and were about to fly the field. But