were blindly bent on destroying the Spanish colonial system in America. The result was a declaration of war in 1739.

Oglethorpe knew that St. Augustine had been strengthened by more troops, and he resolved to strike a blow there, before the enemy should be well prepared. His rule had been anything but a peaceful one, for he had crushed out a conspiracy to assassinate him, also a negro insurrection in South Carolinia.

Early in 1740, he invaded Florida and captured some Spanish outposts. In May, he again entered Florida with six hundred Carolinia militia and a large body of friendly Indians. He marched directly on to St. Augustine, capturing a little fort twenty miles from that city and another but two miles from it.

Noah Stevens, who accompanied the expedition as a volunteer, bore a message from Oglethorpe to the Spanish governor demanding a surrender. As he entered the walls of that old fort he remembered the story he had often heard, how Philip Stevens, his ancestor had, one hundred and fifty-three years before, been captured by Sir Francis Drake at this fort and borne away to England.

Oglethorpe's demand for the surrender was defiantly refused, and he began a siege, determined to starve them into submission; but swift-sailing gal

leys ran the weak blockade which his little squadron formed in the harbor and threw supplies into the fort. Oglethorpe had no cannon with which to batter down the walls of the fort, and, warned by the increasing heats of the coming of the sickly season he raised the siege and returned to Savannah.

Two years later, the Spaniards, with a fleet of thirty-six vessels from Cuba and a land force about three thousand strong, started for the harbor of St. Simons, which was reached in July, 1742. Oglethorpe was on hand, but with a force of less than one thousand, including Indians. South Carolinia had failed to furnish any men and supplies, and Oglethorpe, in a stirring speech to his Georgia soldiers, informed them that they must depend on themselves. When the white sails of the Spanish 'fleet appeared off the shores of Georgia, he went aboard one of his small vessels, with Noah Stevens at his side, and said:

"We must protect Carolinia and the rest of the colonies from destruction or die in the attempt. For myself, I am prepared for all dangers. I know the enemy are far more numerous than we; but I rely on the valor of our men, and, by God's help, I believe we will be victorious."

When the Spanish fleet passed the English batteries at the southern end of the island, however, Oglethorpe realized that resistance would be folly.

He ordered his vessels to run up to Frederica, while he spiked his guns at St. Simons, and retreated to the same place with his troops. There he waited for reinforcements from Carolinia; but they came not, while he was annoyed by frequent attacks from the Spaniards. Noah Stevens, with a small party of Georgians and Indians, repulsed three of these attacks in one day.

Having somewhat tested the metal of the Span iards, and finding them lacking in courage, he reported to Oglethorpe that they were encamped near St. Simons, and so carelessly guarded, that a force much inferior to their own might attack and defeat them. Oglethorpe was so impressed with Noah's statement, that he determined to attack the Spanish encampment that very night. He moved cautiously along a road which he had caused to be made, with a dense live-oak forest draped with Spanish moss on one side, and a deep morass on the other. All would have gone well, had not a Frenchman in his little army fired his musket and deserted to the enemy. The Spaniards were roused, and Oglethorpe fell back to Frederica.

"We are lost," said Oglethorpe. "The traitor will betray our weakness."

The fertile brain of Noah Stevens was not slow in laying a plan whereby the evil could be turned to good account.

"Governor Oglethorpe, write a letter to the deserter and speak of him as if he were a spy sent by yourself. Instruct him to represent that the Georgians are very weak in numbers and arms, and advise the Spaniards to attack us at once, and, if they will not do so, try to persuade them to remain at St. Simons for three days longer, for by that time we will have a British fleet with two thousand soldiers aboard to attack St. Augustine. You know the bearer of this letter will carry it to the Spanish commander,. and the deserter will probably be hung as he deserves and the Spaniards frightened away.'

66 How shall we send such a letter?"

He did, and the result was all that could be asked. The French deserter was arrested and hung for a spy; a council of war was called, and, while it was in session, some vessels from Carolinia were seen at sea, which were mistaken for the British fleet alluded to, and the Spaniards determined to attack .Oglethorpe immediately and then hasten to the defence of St. Augustine.

Noah Stevens, who, with a party of young men. and Indian scouts, was in the forest near enough to watch the enemy, became apprised of their design. He hastened to Oglethorpe with the

information, and they prepared to resist the attack.

On the narrow road flanked by the forest and the morass, within a mile of the fort, Oglethorpe placed his Highlanders in ambush. As the first division of Spaniards were advancing along the road to the attack, there suddenly burst forth a sheet of flame and the Spaniards fell like grass before the scythe. Almost the whole party was killed or captured. A second party, pressing forward to their relief, met a like fate, and the other Spaniards, becoming confused and alarmed, fled to their ships, leaving almost two hundred dead on the field. The scene of this battle is to-day pointed out as "The Bloody Marsh."

The Spaniards returned to St. Augustine, and the commander of the expedition, Don Manuel de Monteano was dismissed from the service on account of his conspicuous failure. The stratagem and courage of Georgia's governor saved Georgia and South Carolinia from utter ruin.

"Oglethorpe had settled, colonized and defended Georgia with rare courage, energy and skill, not for personal glory and worldly gain, but for a great and benevolent purpose. Having firmly established the colony, he returned to England, in 1743, where, after performing good military service for his king against the 'Young Pretender,' he retired to his