A SMALL ship was once sailing down the coast of Africa on its way to the Cape of Good Hope. The vessel was manned by a crew of two white men and nine Negroes. One morning the breeze died away suddenly, and the crew had to drop anchor within a quarter of a mile from the shore. They remained there for three days.
The men wanted to go swimming, but the mate told them it would be too dangerous, as there were alligators in the mouth of the Congo River where they were. However, one of the white seamen, named Campbell, who had been drinking, regardless of all entreaties, jumped into the water, and swam some distance away from the ship. All of a sudden those on board saw an alligator coming towards him from behind a rock which was close to the shore. Poor fellow! His death seemed close at hand, and all means of escape impossible. The mate shot at the fast-approaching alligator, but it had no effect, for the bullets glided over his scaly surface. The noise of the gun and the cries of the men made Campbell acquainted with his danger, and turning around he saw the huge alligator gaining on him. With all the strength he possessed, he made for the shore.
Campbell was almost at the shore approaching a spot where some canes and shrubs grew down from the bank. Even as he was closely pursued by the alligator, a ferocious tiger sprang from the shrubs and stood waiting for him, while the jaws of the hungry reptile were also opened wide to devour him. At this awful moment Campbell was saved!
The eager tiger gave one wild bound, but overleaped him, and falling into the water, he was seized by the alligator. A terrible struggle went on between them, but as the alligator had the advantage of keeping his prey under water, he gained the victory. It sank to the bottom, dragging the dying tiger with it. No more was seen of the alligator, for it ate the tiger instead of Campbell.
Campbell was rescued and taken by a small boat to his ship. As soon as he leaped on deck he fell on his knees and thanked God for his wonderful preservation. Up to that time he had lived a very wicked life, but the thought of the Lord’s mercy to him and that remarkable deliverance, had a profound effect on him. I have no doubt he trusted the Lord as his Saviour from thenceforth, for he was a changed man. We read in the Scriptures: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Dear young friends, we have a far worse foe than either an alligator or a tiger. He is the devil, Satan, the enemy of our souls, and he is dragging countless souls down to hell. He seeks to make people forget that they have precious, never-dying souls, and causes them to either reject or neglect the wonderful salvation that God offers to all through Christ Jesus.
If there is one reading this story who has not put his trust in the Lord Jesus, do not let Satan deceive you any longer, but come to the Saviour while it is yet the day of salvation.
ML-02/23/1969