and regard.  We have spared no pains to render ourselves agreeable in the eyes of our superiors; and never have we heard a word of complaint.  We have made no pretensions to superior wisdom.  We are numbered among the wise by the direction of the king.  In all things have we aimed to be thy faithful, loyal subjects.  Judge then, O king, the astonishment of thy servant when, not half an hour ago, he was apprehended by the captain of the guard as one already appointed to death, according to the direction of the king.  I wonder not that thine anger is kindled against the false pretensions of the magicians.  But why should the innocent suffer with the guilty?  And why, especially, should thy Hebrew servants die without, at least, a trial of their ability through the direct agency of their God, to restore to the king his lost dream?  I, therefore, pray thee, O king, to give thy servant time, and the God that I worship will give me the knowledge of the dream and its interpretation.”

“Belteshazzar,” cried the king, “thy request is granted.  Go! and may thy God give thee the knowledge of the vision.”

Daniel left the presence of the king and hastened to join his comrades at their apartments.

“What now, fair cousin?” said Azariah.  “What am I to learn from such a countenance?  Nothing of a joyful nature, I fear!”

“Alas, comrades!” answered Daniel, “unless Jehovah interfere with a miraculous hand, we are undone.  The decree has already gone forth from royal lips that all the wise men of Babylon must perish by the sword.”

He then gave his companions a full history of the thing, as he had received it from the mouth of Arioch, the captain of the guard.

“In all our trials hitherto,” said Hananiah, “we have found Jehovah to be our sure refuge.  In him we trust, and he will surely open to us a way of escape.”

“Already I feel the strange assurance that from this conflict we shall come forth triumphant,” said Daniel.

“Most humbly will we all bow before our God, and pray that a clear revelation of the lost dream may be made on the mind of our beloved Daniel,” said Azariah.

In solemn silence, the youths of Judah departed, and retired to their respective apartments, there to prostrate themselves before the Lord in humble devotion, with full confidence that the God in whom they trusted would hear their prayer and grant their petition.

Many hours had already passed away.  Stillness prevailed throughout the thoroughfares of the great metropolis.  Silence reigned throughout Babylon.  The faithful night guardians solemnly paraded the streets in the performance of their important duties.  The queen of cities was hushed to repose; its vast thousands had, for a while, forgotten their toil and sorrow.  Old midnight was left far in the rear, and some faint signs in the eastern skies betokened the distant approach of day.  But yonder, on their bended knees, see the trembling forms of Amonober’s children!  For many hours they have wrestled with God.  Does He hear them?  But where is Daniel?  Let us silently enter his chamber.  The son of Baramon is asleep!  Mark his countenance!