A voice inside, a female voice, seemed to be astonished.  "Are you mad, being out in these woods after sundown?"  The sound of a board being removed from the doorway could be heard, and the door opened.  "Put the horses in the pen there, and come inside, quickly!"  Though the doorway, a woman could be seen, around 35 to 40 years old, but still with looks on the young side of middle-age.  She was wearing a simple robe.  "Let me help you."  She came outside, and led the newcomers toward a wooden pen where three cows and a mule were already pent-up.