hy friend Apgomer may give his testimony before the
king."

"O king, live forever!" said Apgomer. "This day thy servant is fourscore
and ten years old. From the days of my childhood have I dwelt in Babylon;
and never for any long period have I departed hence. Soon thy servant
shall leave this world of sorrow--I stand on the verge of the grave. At
this time, with deep soberness, I appeal to the God that dwelleth in
light for the sincerity of my purpose in thus appearing before my lord
the king. My words will be few, therefore, O king, I pray thee hear me
patiently.

"These men who now stand before thee and by whose continual importunity
thou gavest thy signature for the arrest of thy servant Daniel, are
wicked and deceitful men, and with lying words have they deceived thee, O
king. Their secret devices are well known to thy servant. With mine own
ears have I listened to their midnight plotting; and from their own lips
have I learned their fixed purpose to destroy the innocent without cause,
even thy servant Daniel. For many months, O king, these cruel men have
sought an occasion against the first president, and after having failed
in every other point, they thought at last of this.

"I heard the plot described at midnight recently while resting in the
public garden. The conspiracy was led by Fraggood and Kinggron. They were
assisted by a number of the princes, among whom are Bimbokrak and
Scramgee. This foul movement has been going on for many a day, but until
last week the conspirators could not agree on a plan. At last, Prince
Scramgee brought forward a scheme, which met with the cordial approval of
the rest. And who but the chief evil spirit of the universe could have
put in his heart such a horrible measure? It was in effect that a law be
enacted that anyone who prayed to the God of Israel should be cast into
the lions' den. When I made thy servant Daniel acquainted with the plot
against his life, his only reply was:

"'Let them proceed in their scheme of wickedness. Let it become ripe. The
God in whom I trust shall vindicate the honor and superiority of his own
law. I might easily frustrate all their malicious designs by acquainting
the king with their cowardly plots; but the cause of Jehovah shall gather
more strength from a miraculous display of his power in the preservation
of his servant from harm. Forty years ago, idolatry in Chaldea received a
blow, from the effects of which it has never recovered, in the m