And the men who were on the watch to catch him in some crime, drew near his house and heard him pray to his God. So they went and told the king, and the king was wroth to think he had made such a law. And he tried his best to save Dan-i-el. But the men held him to his word, and said it would not do for him to change a law that had been made. Then the king bade them bring Dan-i-el and cast him in the den of wild beasts. And he said to Dan-i-el, Thy God, whom thou dost serve so well, will be sure to save thee. And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den. [Illustration: ROCK GRAVE OF DA-RI-US.] Then the king went to his own house, but would take no food, nor did he sleep all that night. And at dawn he rose and went in haste to the den of wild beasts. And as he drew near he cried out with a sad voice, O Dan-i-el, canst thy God save thee from the li-ons? And Dan-i-el said, O king, my God hath shut the li-ons' mouths so that they have not hurt me, since I had done no wrong in his sight nor in thine, O king. Then the king was glad, and bade his men take Dan-i-el out of the den. And when he was brought out, there was not a scratch found on him, for his trust was in God, and God took care of him. Then the king had those men who found fault with Dan-i-el, thrown in-to the den--they and their wives, and their chil-dren--and the wild beasts were quick to eat them up. [Illustration: CY-RUS, KING OF PER-SI-A.] Then Da-ri-us made a law that all men should serve the God of Dan-i-el, who was the one true God. When Da-ri-us died, Cy-rus was made king. CHAPTER XX. THE GOOD QUEEN ESTHER. FAR back in the past, wise men had fore-told that the Jews would be kept out of Je-ru-sa-lem for three-score and ten years, and at the end of that time a king, Cy-rus, would let them go back to the land they came from. And he did so. Not all the Jews went back to their own land, but some of them made their homes in Per-si-a and else-where. And King A-has-u-e-rus was on the throne. In the third year of his reign he made a great feast. And he sent for Vash-ti, the queen, to throw off her veil and let his guests see how fair she was. But Vash-ti would not do it. Then the king was in a rage, and said to his wise men, What shall we do to Queen Vash-ti to make her know that the king's will is her law? And the wise men said, Vash-ti hath done wrong to the king and to all the lords of the land. For when this is told, wives will not do as their liege lords wish. They will say, The king sent word for Vash-ti, the queen, to be brought to him, but she came not. Let the king make a law and put Vash-ti from him and choose a new queen, that all wives, great and small, may take heed and do as they are told. The king and all the lords thought these were wise words. And the king made it a law that a man should rule in his own house.