At first I thought that the palisade had been stormed, and then I heard a soft voice which was no Indian's.

Heedless of orders, I flung myself at the rough gate, and in a trice was beside the voice.
Elspeth was busy among the startled beasts.

She had a passion for horses, and had, as we say, the "cool" hand with them, for she would soothe a frightened stallion by rubbing his nose and whispering in his ear.

By the time I got to her she had stamped out the torch, and was stroking Grey's mare, which was the worst scared.

Her own fear had gone, and in that place of plunging hooves and tossing manes she was as calm as in a summer garden.