might think the young chap said something in this fashion:

"Get up quickly! Come to the other end of the den, and there you will see
a sight that you never saw before in all your days. There is another
victim; but he has no more the appearance of common victims than thou
hast. I know by his eye he has no fear of the lions. Why, think! as soon
as he came to the bottom of the den, he walked to and fro among us as
deliberately as my brother here, or myself, would walk among our
companions."

After the whispering was over (if whispering it was), the old lion
uttered another growl, as much as to say, "That sounds to me rather
improbable, but I guess I will go and see for myself." The old lion led
the way. Close by his heels followed the lioness. Next in order followed
the rest of the family. They soon arrived at the spot, and sure enough,
it was as the young lion had declared. The old lion paused for a moment,
but he soon made up his mind that there was nothing to fear. So he slowly
approached. He paused again. Daniel reached out his hand and spoke. The
lion fancied the peculiarity of that voice; so with eyes half closed he
slowly walked up to the man, and with the innocence and harmlessness of a
young spaniel, he licked the hand of the prophet. After having partially
conquered his embarrassment, he uttered another low growl, and looked
toward the rest of the company, as much as to say, "Come this way! Don't
be afraid."

They slowly and silently gathered around the strange visitor, and each
one appeared to be pleased to be permitted to come in contact with his
person in some way. And when the darkness of night gathered around them,
the old lion answered for Daniel's pillow, the lioness lay at his feet,
and the young lions stretched themselves on either side, to keep him
warm; and soon the Prophet of Jehovah was fast asleep.

. . . . . . .

If ever a sleepless mortal, wearied with the tediousness of a painful
night, rejoiced to see the first glimmering dawn of the morn, King Darius
did, after that dark, dreary period of agony. No sooner was it fairly day
than the monarch ordered his chariot, and, with a number of his nobles,
he was once more on his way toward the den of lions. The royal chariot,
as it moved through the various thoroughfares, attracted the notice of
the inhabitants. Its destination was understood, and as there was some
faint hope in the minds of thousands th