238 BOYS OF THE BIBLE.

same—decree or no decree. Their whole conspiracy was
quite a compliment to Daniel as a man of prayer.

And Daniel did just as they felt sure he would. He
went on praying three times a day, with his window open
toward Jerusalem, just as though there had been no decree.
So these men who had laid this plot to put an end to Daniel’s
life, brought the matter before the King. They reported
that Daniel was praying just as usual. The King was very
much annoyed, and would have spared Daniel if he could, but,
King though he was, he was helpless. He must maintain his
own decree, and Daniel was cast into the den of lions.

These miserable enemies of Daniel thought their work
was effectually done. And so it was, as far as they were con-
cerned. But they had left wholly out of their calculation the
fact that Daniel’s God was God of lions as well as God of
men. When the morning came, what was their surprise to
find Daniel alive and unharmed!

The King was greatly delighted when he found that Dan-
iel was yet alive. And when he asked Daniel what it all
meant, Daniel simply said:

“My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the mouths
of the lions.” !

Then disaster fell upon the conspirators. They were
cast into the very den of lions they had so shrewdly pre-
pared for Daniel, and there was no angel to shut the mouths
of the lions.

And now we must go back a little in the history. In the
days of Nebuchadnezzar, a most wonderful thing occurred.
‘The King set up a great golden image, about a hundred feet
high, in the plain of Dura, and demanded that everybody
should bow down and worship it; and those who would
not were to be cast into a fiery furnace.