BOYS OF THE BIBLE. 241

Now, the three friends of Daniel—Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego—were faithful to their religion and to the God of
their fathers, and they would not bow down. The King
threatened, but they said God would deliver them. Anyway,
they would not bow down. In the face of all Babylon, they
stood up, boldly erect.

Then Nebuchadnezzar became angry; and turning a
fierce and cruel gaze on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
he charged his servants that they should heat the furnace
seven times hotter than it was heated before. This done,
he called for his soldiers to bind the three brave young men
and cast them into the furnace. The order was obeyed.
Bound with cords, in their coats, and other garments, they
were thrown into the burning, fiery furnace. And because
the furnace was exceeding hot, and the King made them go
near to it, the flames scorched and burned the men who cast
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in; and these three men,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into
the midst of the fire. But soon they rose up, and walked
in the fire; for the God they served and worshiped was the
God who never forsakes those who put their trust in him.

Now was ever such a sight as that? Think of it! The
fire would not burn them! It probably burned the cords and
ropes with which they were bound, but it touched not them.
They walked unharmed and free in the midst of the leaping
flaines.

No wonder that the angry King was greatly astonished;
and he said in haste to the rulers and great men who were
with him, ‘“ Did we not cast three men bound into the midst
of the fire?” They answered, ‘‘ We did, O King.” And he
said, “‘Lo, I see four men loose and walking in the midst
of the fire, and they are not hurt. And the form of the