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.