The work was well advanced, Nor Juan with his mile and plumb-bob coming and going among the numerous laborers.

Upon catching sight of Ibarra he ran to meet him.
"Don Crisostomo, at last you've come! We've all been waiting for you.

Look at the walls, they're already more than a meter high and within two days they'll be up to the height of a man.

I've put in only the strongest and most durable woods--molave, dungon, ipil, langil--and sent for the finest--tindalo, malatapay, pino, and narra--for the finishings.

Do you want to look at the foundations ?" The workmen saluted Ibarra respectfully, while Nor Juan made voluble explanations.