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"Yea, verily, my child, if he should find that he was in the wrong path; peradventure, this would constitute his first business." "I can hardly hope for such a happy result, sister," said Shagoth. "The conniving demagogue will cling to his office until compelled by a stringent law to abandon it." "Before many days, the Rab Mag will return," said the erect promenader.
The next was directed to a young student who sat in the vicinity of Shagoth, but it was not answered to the satisfaction of the king. The same was directed to Hananiah, and the answer was such as to astonish the examiner. Another perplexing question was directed to a young student, a resident of the city; but it was of too profound a nature for the young man to answer.
But then it would be some consolation to know that they had been compelled to worship and bow before the gods of the Chaldeans." "There is one thing to be deeply regretted," said Shagoth. "I am informed that Belteshazzar, the great Rab Mag, is now in Egypt, and is not expected to return for some weeks. He also ought to bear them company and share the same fate.
"Shagoth and myself will so arrange matters as to be near them; and if they bow not with us we will on the spot report them to the king." "This is a matter of ponderous importance, and of immense consequence," said the promenading father. "From this, Chaldea shall hereafter reap abundant harvests.
The reader is already aware that the king was one of the ripest scholars within the empire, and, therefore, was fully prepared for the undertaking. The first problem was directed to Shagoth. Shagoth colored, and, in endeavoring to answer, stammered out something which the king could not understand. The same question was directed to Apgomer.
"Away, Scribbo, from the sound of this barking dog!" said Shagoth. And the two office-seekers hurried away in search of the doomed Hebrews. They had gone but a little distance when they saw the three brothers together, a few rods on the left from the throne. The two Chaldeans, unobserved, stationed themselves close behind them, and there waited for the grand result.
"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.
"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."
The flames leaped high above the top of the black walls that surrounded them. The executioners were strong men of the royal guard. To these were added a number of others, who, to show the strength of their patriotism, volunteered their services. Foremost among these were Scribbo and Shagoth. With what triumphant malignity they gazed on the bound Hebrews!
My cousin Scribbo, at the early age of ten years, would, without fear, push headlong into the water little girls years younger than himself; while the brave Shagoth, at the early age of twelve, could find no more pleasing recreation than to scourge his poor relatives of eight years old and under.
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