Still the three brothers, “with their faces toward Jerusalem,” are bowed before the Lord.  But hark!  Ah! it is the well-known voice of Daniel.  It rings melodiously throughout every apartment and it falls on the ears of the cousins.  Hark!

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are his.  And he changeth the times and seasons.  He removeth and setteth up kings.  He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that seek understanding.  He revealeth deep and secret things.  He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.  I thank Thee and praise Thee, O God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of Thee; for Thou hast made known to us now the king’s matter.”

Early in the morning, Daniel sought an interview with Arioch, and besought the reversing of the sentence against the wise men, and assured him that he was fully prepared to appear before the king, and restore to him the lost vision.

“Let Belteshazzar be assured,” said the captain of the guard, “that I shall not move a finger against the wise men but by the positive orders of the king, and I am happy to say that he hath ordered me to delay execution until I receive further directions.  I have just learned by chance that the merchant Joram has had an interview with the king in behalf of thee and thy friends.  If I can be of any service to Belteshazzar, I am at his pleasure.”

“In one hour, then, I will call on thee again, and thou shalt accompany me into the presence of the king,” and Daniel departed.

Daniel found his companions sunk into calm slumber, from which they were not then awakened.  He partook of a slight repast, bowed once more in adoration before God, and returned to seek Arioch, the captain of the guard.

They were soon on their way to the palace.  Arioch first entered.

“O king, live forever!  Belteshazzar is without, desiring to see thee; and—­”

“No more from thee at this time,” interrupted the king.  “Retire, and send the young man hither.”

The officer, well used to the manner of his sovereign, bowed low and retired.

“Belteshazzar,” said Arioch, “thou are admitted; and may the gods give thee success.”

With a firm step, and a calm look, and with full confidence in the God of Israel, the Hebrew youth once more marched into the presence of the King of Chaldea.

“Belteshazzar,” cried the king, “art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?”

“The secret which the king demandeth of his servant is far above the knowledge and comprehension of all his wise men, astrologers, magicians, and soothsayers.  But the God of heaven—­that Jehovah who dwelleth in light—­he revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, what shall come to pass in the latter days.  Be it known, therefore, to the king, that this secret is not revealed to me through any wisdom that I have more than any living, but it is the kind interposition of Jehovah in behalf of thy servant and his companions in tribulation, who are doomed to die; and, moreover, to show the king that Jehovah is the only God.