So proceed with your delightful performance," said an
officer, at the same time giving way, while his companions followed him
some two or three steps downward.
"With all pleasure!" answered Scribbo, while, with fiendish eagerness,
they both turned to perform the foul deed. With a firm grasp they first
laid hold on Azariah, and he was thrown into the midst of the flames. The
same was done to Mishael; and, finally, as Hananiah dropped to the
burning depth below, the ascending flames became doubly fierce; at the
same moment the wind shifted and became strong, and, as sudden as a flash
of lightning, the flames poured their awful vengeance on the guilty heads
of Scribbo and Shagoth. For a moment they whirled in the midst of God's
avenging scourges, crying loudly for help; but no help could be
administered! In another instant they became bewildered, and soon their
blackened forms fell on the edge of the furnace, where a few moments
before had lain the sons of Judah!
The king had not accompanied the prisoners to the fatal spot, but
continued, in a surly mood, to sit on his elevated throne.
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