But although none doubted her death--except Nehushta--his spirit did not tell him that this was so.

Thus it came about that Marcus lived on among the Essenes till his health and strength came back to him, as it was appointed that he should do until the time came for him to act.

At length that time came.
When Samuel, the Essene, left Tyre, bearing the letter and the ring of Miriam, he journeyed to Jerusalem to find the Holy City but a heap of ruins, haunted by hyaenas and birds of prey that feasted on the innumerable dead.

Still, faithful to his trust, he strove to discover that entrance to the caverns of which Miriam had told him, and to this end hovered day by day upon the north side of the city near to the old Damascus Gate.

The hole he could not find, for there were thousands of stones behind which jackals had burrowed, and how was he to know which of these openings led to caverns, nor were there any left to direct him.
Still, Samuel searched and waited in the hope that one day an Essene might appear who would guide him to the hiding-place of the brethren.
But no Essene appeared, for the good reason that they had fled already.
In the end he was seized by a patrol of Roman soldiers who had observed him hovering about the place and questioned him very strictly as to his business.