It was now concluded, with some appearance of rea son, by the Spaniards, that the bold spirit of the enemy was at length completely subdued ; but the event once more deceived them. They had still to be taught the supremacy of freedom, of that native enthusiasm, that enduring energy, and that gallant perseverance, which for ever accompany, characterise, and render altogether invincible the efforts of a free and high minded people. While they were yet exulting in joyful anticipation, a new Toqui was elected by the relics of Quipeo. The few remaining Uhnens, more resolute than ever to main tain their freedom, assembled in a wood, and exalted to the supreme command Antiguenu, a man of low rank, but whose talents entitled him to the preference. He retired, with his little band, to the inaccessible marshes of Lumaco, where it was proposed to concentrate their shattered resources, and strike once more for the deliver ance of their country.
While these matters were secretly transacting among the enemy, Garcia, finding himself possessed of a large disposable force, dispatched Pedro Castillo for the reduc tion of Cujo. More successful than Aguirre, he sue cceded in establishing in that country the colonies of St Juan and 1\Iendoza. Francis Villagran was about this time reinstated by the court of Spain in his former com mand, and Garcia, in consideration of his eminent servi ces, was transferred, at the same time, to the govern ment of Peru.
Antiguenuovhen he found himself in a condition to annoy the enemy, sallied from his retreat. Though his first attempts, front the inexperience of his soldiers, were feeble and unsuccessful, he soon taught them to conquer, to confide in their own strength, and in the Con duct of their leader ; and having obtained some slight advantages over the Spaniards, seized upon the strong position of Alariguenu. Villagran himself, being at this time indisposed, one of his younger sons advanced to dislodge the Araucanians, but lost, in the attempt, both his own life, and the flower of his army. This defeat was followed by the immediate evacuation of Cancte and the loss of Villagran, whose death, accelerated by grief, anxiety, and disappointment, was much regretted by the Spaniards, who regarded him as a brave and prudent leader. Pedro, his eldest son, respected for the same estimable endowments, was appointed to fill the station of his father. The Araucanians set fire to Canete, and levelled its fortifications with the ground. Antiguenu then undertook the siege of Arauco, with a body of 4000 men, but in older to create a diversion detached a part of them to invest Conception. The siege, of Arauco is remarkable for the signal vengeance which this general contrived to obtain upon the Chilese auxiliaries, by whose intelligence his best officers were perpetually marked out, for the aim of the Spanish artillery. By
means of secret emissaries, the Spanish commander was made to suspect their lidelity ; and in the violence of his displeasure, in spite of all their remonstrances, having driven them from the fortress, would not permit himself to be undeceived, till he beheld the wretched victims of his credulity suffering a cruel cleat!) in front of the Araucanians. During the siege also, took place one of those single combats, which about that period had be come frequent. Antiguenu challenged Bernal, governor of the fort. The chieftains met mid-way between their respective forces, and after mhintaining a sharp conflict for two hours, were separated by their attendants, and returned to their accustomed mode of warfare. The garrison, pressed by scarcity of provisions, and under a strict and vigilant blockade, was at length reduced to extremity, but were generously permitted to withdraw unmolested by the Araucanians.
Antiguenu having in this manner dislodged the enemy from their two principal forts, and delivered the greater part of his country from their oppressions, began to harass them in their own territories. He dispatched Lilemu, a gallant officer, to ravage the provinces of Itata and Chillan, while he marched in person to the siege of Angol. But a period was here put to his victorious career. Whilst encamped at the confluence of the Bio bio and Vergosa, his forces were attacked by Bernal, with the whole Spanish army, and totally routed. An tiguenu perished in the flight. Being hurried along with the fugitives, he was precipitated from a steep bank, into the river, and there drowned. In this action the Araucanians are said to have employed, with some dexterity, the muskets they had taken at Mariguenu: and the Spaniards entirely owed their success to the i resolute temper of Bernal, who, perceiving his etery where yielding to the fierce valour of the enemy, charged the fugitives with his cavalry, restored the fight, and thus wrested a victory of which he had begun to despair. The loss.of their Toqui was followed by ano ther scarcely less severe to the Araucanians. The brave Lilemu, who, during these events, had been successful in Chillan, fell a glorious sacrifice to his magnanimity. Coming to the relief of a small detachment which had been overpowered by the Spaniards, he seized a narrow pass, and with a few gallant companions, at the expellee of their lives and his own, sustained the whole shock of the enemy ; while an easy retreat was thus opened and secured for his scattered soldiers.