Page:A history of Chile.djvu/97

 THE COLONIAL PERIOD 85 The challenge was accepted, the combat being arranged for the third day after. In this tilt Cadeguala fell, pierced by Ramon's lance, and the Araucanian army withdrew. Guanoalca was elected toqui in place of Cadeguala and at once returned to the siege. Juan Tapia, the Spaniard who had accepted the terms of the Araucanians and had gone over to their side in the previous siege, informed Guanoalca that the garrison was short of pro- visions and divided in sentiment. This no doubt was true, as the besieged soon evacuated the place and re- tired to Angol, the Indians permitting them to pass unmolested. Guanoalca next determined to take the new fort which had been erected recently near Mt. Mariguenu. Learning, however, that the post had been strongl}' reinforced, he changed his plan and proceeded against Trinidad and Espiritu Santo. On his approach, the governor abandoned the forts, transferring the garrisons to a new fort he had had constructed near Angol upon the river Puchanqui. These events occurred during the year 15S9. It was not unusual for women to wield spears in the Araucanian wars. A woman now took up arms who proved to be a veritable Joan of Arc. Janequeo was the wife of the heroic Guepotan, who after he had lost Liben, had retired to the mountains, where he was sometime afterward killed by the Spaniards, preferring death, it is said, to being taken prisoner. Janequeo determined to avenge the death of her husband, and for that purpose placed herself, in company with her brother Guechiuntereo, at the head of the Puelches. During the year 1590 she began to harass the Span- ish towns and showed no quarter to any of her enemies who chanced to fall into her hands. The governor pro-