But certain caverns in the hillside behind, which they used as store-houses, remained, and undiscovered in them a secret stock of corn and wine that gave them food.
Here, then, they camped and set to work to sow the fields which no Romans or robbers had been able to destroy, and so lived hardly, but unmolested, till at length the first harvest came and with it plenty.
In this dry and wholesome air Marcus recovered rapidly, who by nature was very strong.

When first his wits returned to him he recognised Nehushta, and asked her what had chanced.

She told him all she knew, and that she believed Miriam to be dead, tidings which caused him to fall into a deep melancholy.

Meanwhile, the Essenes treated him with kindness, but let him understand that he was their prisoner.

Nor if he had wished it, and they had given him leave to go, could he have left them at that time, seeing that the slightest of his hurts proved to be the worst, since the spear or sword-cut having penetrated to the joint and let out the oil, the wound in his knee would heal only by very slow degrees, and for many weeks left him so lame that he could not walk without a crutch.