id:

"The question rests here, brothers! Can any edict from any king,
potentate, or human power, make null and void the laws of the eternal
God? To this question, from us, there is but one short answer, and that
is, 'Nay!' Is He not higher than the highest? Are not His commands far
superior to all human edicts? The law of Jehovah is supreme, and let the
higher law be obeyed, though the heavens should fall! Azariah, what
sayest thou?"

"I say I shall not bow to any god but the God of Israel! In Him I trust.
If we perish by the hand of our enemies, so let it be! Better death than
a base betrayal of our sacred trust. But is not that God who saved us
once from death able to deliver us again? Is his arm shortened, that he
cannot save? Then let them heat the fiery furnace! That God in whom we
trust will yet deliver us from this calamity, and overrule this dark
providence to his glory."

A knock was heard. The door was opened, and the pleasant voice of the
newcomer gave them to understand that he was no other than the
kind-hearted Apgomer.

"I trouble you, at this time, as a bearer of dispatches from my kind
master, Belteshazzar, who is now in Egypt, on government business of
pressing importance. Before he left, he gave me positive orders to
deliver all messages to his cousins without the least delay."

"Thou art ever welcome, dear Apgomer!" answered Hananiah. "and especially
to-day, as a bearer of a dispatch from one we love so well."

"And here is another, from one that, peradventure, ye love the more. Ye
perceive that the children of Judah have some confidence in their
Chaldean friend."

"And great is the confidence thou deservest, as one that has proved
himself a genuine friend in every trial," said Azariah.

"Let not my noble friend speak thus!" said the modest Chaldean, "for I
deserve it not. I must return, and any further dispatches that may be
sent to my care shall, without delay, be conveyed hither. Adieu!"

These dispatches proved to be letters. The last delivered was
confidentially handed to Apgomer by Mathias, and was written by Perreeza.

The letter from Daniel was first considered. It was read aloud by
Azariah.

"Ever Dear Cousins: I have this moment read the wonderful proclamation of
the king, in regard to the great image of Bel, to be dedicated on the
plains of Dura. By some strange providence, he saw fit to send me hither,
with imperative instructions to remain until some unpleasant affairs
betwe