At first he supposed that some horses belonging to the house were stabled here, and neglected because the roads were impassable; then he judged that so slight a shed could not be intended for a stable.
He answered the animal's cry by seeking the door.

Against it the drift was not deep, for, as it opened on the sheltered side, he had only the snowfall to scrape away.

The door, which had very recently been freed from its crust of frost, yielded easily.

He found a brown shaggy horse tied within, and beside it a sleigh, such as he had frequently seen, a mere platform of wood upon runners.

Otherwise the shed was empty.
Courthope was quickly struck by the recognition of something which set his memory working.