The conspirators, with bounding hearts, made their way in haste and entered the house of President Fraggood, and there gave vent to the fiendish joy of their malicious hearts at the success of their nefarious scheme.

“Now we must be on the watch,” said Kinggron, “or he will, after all, escape.  Let three of our number be appointed, and let them be called ’The Union Safety Committee,’ whose business it shall be to mark well the movements of the old Hebrew, and prepare, for all emergencies, ready answers for the ears of the king.”

“Thou hast well thought,” answered Fraggood, “for I apprehend that as yet we are not quite out of danger.  I fear this measure will be repulsive to the king, when he thinketh of it in all its parts; and more repulsive still, when he finds the first transgressor to be none other than the first president.  Let us be prepared for the mighty contest!  This is a movement that will justify desperate measures.  Things must be resorted to that, in other matters, would be justly condemned.  The object in view must justify our every step.  Our words have gone forth to the king that this law is the fruit of the calm deliberations of all the presidents.  Now, in regard to the future of this matter, there must be no cowardly apologies, no lame explanations, no faltering embarrassment, nor weak equivocation.  Let us still unitedly adhere to every statement that we have made.  And shall the testimony of one be strong enough to impeach the testimony of six men?  Nay, verily!  Let us, therefore, be firm, and we shall not only succeed in condemning the old Israelite, but also prove him a liar.  Are we now ready to swear solemnly, in the presence of the gods, that our testimonies, if called before the king, shall say that this Daniel was concerned in framing this law?”

“All ready, most noble Fraggood!” was the united reply.

“Then we swear!”

The next day, by order of the presidents, the streets of Babylon rang with the proclamation of the new law.  Heralds were sent to and fro, who, at the top of their voices, sounded the peculiar edict throughout every thoroughfare.  At first it was thought by many to be a mischievous hoax, but it was soon found to be stern reality.  Nothing could exceed the astonishment and consternation produced among the inhabitants when they first heard it; it was so unlike anything they could expect from the mild Mede.  Not only among the Hebrews, who were numerous in the city, was this singular law looked upon as monstrous in its nature, but also by the great body of Chaldeans, many of whom were warmly attached to the worship of their gods.  The shortness of the period in which it was to be enforced, however, served to quiet them in a manner.  Thirty days would soon be over, and then they would closely watch the future movements of their new king.

The “Union Safety Committee” acted well their part.  Daniel, perfectly acquainted with all their movements, gave himself no uneasiness.  With full confidence in his God, he rolled his burden upon Jehovah, and felt the perfect assurance that all would be well.