Here by degrees they laid up a great store of provisions of all sorts,
of charcoal for burning, and other necessaries, carrying into the place
also clothes, bedding, cooking utensils and even some rough furniture.
These preparations being made, the fifty of them who remained removed
themselves to the vaults where now they had already dwelt three months,
and here, so far as was possible, continued to practise the rules of
their order. Miriam asked how they kept their health in this darkness,
to which they replied that sometimes they went out by that path
which she had just followed, and mingled with the people in the city,
returning to their hole at night. Ithiel and his companion were on such
a journey when they found her. Also they had another passage to the
upper air which they would show her later.

When Miriam had finished eating, dressed her hurt, and rested a while,
they took her to explore the wonders of the place. Beyond this great
cistern, that was their common room, lay more to the number of six or
seven, one of the smallest of which was given to Nehushta and herself
to dwell in. Others were filled with stores enough to last them all for
months. Last of all was a cave, not very large, but deep, which always
held sweet water. Doubtless there was a spring at the bottom of it,
which, when the other rain-fed tanks grew dry, still kept it supplied.
From this cistern that had been used for generations after the others
were abandoned, a little stair ran upwards, worn smooth by the feet of
folk long dead, who had come hither to draw water.

"Where does it lead?" asked Miriam.

"To the ruined tower above," answered Ithiel. "Nay, another time I will
show you. Now your place is made ready for you, go, let Nehushta bathe
your foot, and sleep, for you must need it sorely."

So Miriam went and laid herself down to rest in the little cemented
vault which was to be her home for four long months; and being worn
out, notwithstanding the sufferings she had passed and her fears for
her grandfather, slept there as soundly as ever she had done in her
wind-swept chamber at the palace of Tyre, or in her house at the village
of the Essenes.

When she awoke and saw the darkness all about her, she thought that it
must be night; then remembering that in this place it was always night,
called to Nehushta, who uncovered the little lamp that burned in a
corner of the vault, and went out, to return presently with the news
that accordi