This he had inherited from his father, so that it was known to no other living man.
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.