Those English sons-in-law sometimes gave themselves too many airs . So Carey rode often to town and Tannis bided her time , and plotted futile schemes of revenge , and Lazarre Merimee scowled and got drunk -- and life went on at the Flats as usual , until the last week in October , when a big wind and rainstorm swept over the northland . It was a bad night . The wires were down between the Flats and Prince Albert and all communication with the outside world was cut off . Over at Joe Esquint 's the breeds were having a carouse in honor of Joe 's birthday . Paul Dumont had gone over , and Carey was alone in the office , smoking lazily and dreaming of Elinor . Suddenly , above the plash of rain and whistle of wind , he heard outcries in the street . Running to the door he was met by Mrs. Joe Esquint , who grasped him breathlessly . `` Meestair Carey -- come quick ! Lazarre , he kill Paul -- they fight ! '' Carey , with a smothered oath , rushed across the street . He had been afraid of something of the sort , and had advised Paul not to go , for those half-breed carouses almost always ended in a free fight . He burst into the kitchen at Joe Esquint 's , to find a circle of mute spectators ranged around the room and Paul and Lazarre in a clinch in the center . Carey was relieved to find it was only an affair of fists . He promptly hurled himself at the combatants and dragged Paul away , while Mrs. Joe Esquint -- Joe himself being dead-drunk in a corner -- flung her fat arms about Lazarre and held him back . `` Stop this , '' said Carey sternly . `` Let me get at him , '' foamed Paul . `` He insulted my sister . He said that you -- let me get at him ! '' He could not writhe free from Carey 's iron grip .
XXXXX , with a snarl like a wolf , sent Mrs. Joe spinning , and rushed at Paul .
Albert Elinor Esquint Lazarre Tannis carouses night outcries smoking sons-in-law