Near these a crowd of servants was busily engaged around improvised _kalanes_ in plucking chickens, washing rice, and roasting a pig.

On the opposite bank in a cleared space were gathered men and women under a canvas covering which was fastened partly to the hoary trees and partly to newly-driven stakes.

There were gathered the alferez, the coadjutor, the gobernadorcillo, the teniente-mayor, the schoolmaster, and many other personages of the town, even including Sinang's father, Capitan Basilio, who had been the adversary of the deceased Don Rafael in an old lawsuit.

Ibarra had said to him, "We are disputing over a point of law, but that does not mean that we are enemies," so the celebrated orator of the conservatives had enthusiastically accepted the invitation, sending along three turkeys and putting his servants at the young man's disposal.
The curate was received with respect and deference by all, even the alferez.

"Why, where has your Reverence been ?" asked the latter, as he noticed the curate's scratched face and his habit covered with leaves and dry twigs.