ons of moral integrity! Only three
among five hundred thousand! While all besides have bowed the knee, there
they stand! Their figures are heroic, their forms are erect, their arms
folded, while an involuntary smile of contempt plays on their lips.

"By the gods, we have them!" whispered Shagoth, in ecstasies. "Behold,
Scribbo, how erect their posture!"

"Hold thy peace!" whispered Scribbo, in return, "or they will hear us.
When we rise, then we will confront them to good advantage. Thanks to the
gods, they have well favored us."

The signal for the vast throng to arise from their worshiping attitude
was given. No sooner was it heard, than Scribbo and Shagoth walked with
an air of conscious triumph and stood before the three Hebrews.

"And who are these presumptuous and rash mortals," said Shagoth, "who
thus dare to set the laws of the king at defiance? Tremble, ye daring
wretches! for who are ye to withstand the vengeance of our sovereign?"

"To the king, then, we are accountable; and not to thee, thou crawling
reptile," answered Hananiah. "So haste thee away; and if thou hast any
authority, let it be displayed within its own sphere."

"Ah!" cried Shagoth, "ye are doomed to die! See ye not the heated smoke
of the fiery furnace? Your guilty and rash conduct shall be made known to
the king without delay. Your guilty career is well-nigh run; and Chaldea
shall soon be delivered from the curse of foreign office-holders."

"But not from the curse of a groveling, envious, unprincipled horde of
office-seekers," said Azariah, casting a withering glance on the two
brothers.

"Away, brother!" cried Scribbo. "For why should we hear the abusive
harangue of these overfed demagogues?"

And away the patriots hurried with their complaint to the king.

The monarch was surrounded by a large number of his nobles, who were loud
in their congratulations at the complete success that had crowned the
day.

An officer in uniform came forward, and bowed low in the presence of the
king.

"What is thy pleasure, Arioch!" asked Nebuchadnezzar.

"Two men have approached the guard, O king, greatly desiring to be
admitted into thy presence."

"Let them be admitted!" was the answer.

With anything but ease of manner, Scribbo and Shagoth walked into the
royal presence.

"And what have ye to communicate?" inquired his majesty, eying them as if
not quite satisfied with their appearance.

"O king, live forever!" replied the Chaldeans. "