He kneeled in the semi-darkness of the lion's den. Naked starving eyes pierced his heart and he trembled. 'Whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, except from the King shall be cast into the den of lions' had been the decree that King Darius had sent forth. Three times a day Daniel kneeled and prayed and gave thanks to his God as aforetime. Closing his eyes he called on his maker, "Almighty God deliver me from the mouths of these beasts that all Babylon may know that there is only one God, and that they might know that he has all power in Heaven and on earth." Rotting flesh and death filled his nostrils in this ancient tomb.
Fifty feet above steaks of light from the closed trap door illuminated the gloom. Fierce and terrible lights blazed on him. A lion roared and charged a few feet. Dust filled the air, old dust mingled with the smell of hair and bones and flesh. The beast abruptly stopped its change as if held by an unseen arm. Slowly now it walked towards Daniel and lay at his knees, its fur rubbing against his thighs and forearms. In this position, he endured the night silently calling out to his God. Unspeakable peace filled his soul.