However, Cuthbert was able to understand him, and he to gather the drift of what Cuthbert told him.

The old man then showed him, that by touching a stone in the corner of his cave the apparently solid rock opened, and revealed an entrance into an inner cave, which was lit by a ray of light, which penetrated from above.
"This," he said, "was made centuries ago, and was intended as a refuge from the persecutors of that day.

The caves were then almost all inhabited by hermits, and although many recked not of their lives, and were quite ready to meet death through the knife of the infidel, others clung to existence, and preferred to pass many years of penance on earth for the sake of atoning for their sins before called upon to appear before their Maker.
"If you are pursued, it will be safer for you to take up your abode here.
I am known to all the inhabitants of this country, who look upon me as mad, and respect me accordingly.

None ever interfere with me, or with the two or three other hermits, the remains of what was once almost an army, who now alone survive.

I can offer you no hospitality beyond that of a refuge; but there is water in the river below, fruits and berries in abundance on the shrubs.