s of thy
kind regards. At thy expense we have been taught in all the learning and
wisdom of the Chaldeans; and, in the presence of hundreds of thy worthy
nobles, thou sawest fit to pronounce us superior in the various branches
of learning, and, amid enthusiastic cheers, we were escorted to the
palace of the king. We have endeavored to prove ourselves worthy of the
favors 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 Azar