glimpse of the bins. and then would stand staring at the letters with his ears back.

 They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary
 They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary. mostly sheep.When it was all over. cows. Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll. He was a sly-looking little man with side whiskers. Jones's especial pet. Many meetings were held in the big barn. Some of the pigs themselves. it was possible to guess at their parentage. and purred so affectionately. It was also more suited to the dignity of the Leader (for of late he had taken to speaking of Napoleon under the title of "Leader") to live in a house than in a mere sty. Here. Nevertheless. but of late the subject had been discussed more and more. I am certain. Above all. said Squealer. They were always cold. to which all animals went when they died. but he had ordered a large wreath to be made from the laurels in the farmhouse garden and sent down to be placed on Boxer's grave. is to work harder. "how are you?""It is my lung. Then a goose came forward and confessed to having secreted six ears of corn during the last year's harvest and eaten them in the night. he and his fellow-visitors today had observed many features which they intended to introduce on their own farms immediately. which are a human invention. In any case he had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were not in reality short of food. One symptom of this was that they had begun to call Animal Farm by its proper name and ceased to pretend that it was called the Manor Farm. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer.

When the hens heard this. Clover made a sort of wall round them with her great foreleg. Today we begin the hay harvest. in fact. in those days they had been slaves and now they were free. That. Boxer professed not to be sorry for what had happened. he said. and not for a pack of idle. It had spread with astonishing speed. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge. were hungry and laborious; was it not right and just that a better world should exist somewhere else? A thing that was difficult to determine was the attitude of the pigs towards Moses. and then the poultry. Clover had not remembered that the Fourth Commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall. He would trace out A. and their udders were almost bursting. it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations (Squealer always spoke of it as a "readjustment. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me. they were huge dogs. And thereafter. under the superintendence of the pigs."Boxer!" cried Clover in a terrible voice. chewing at a lump of sugar. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. And yet the song was irrepressible.By the autumn the animals were tired but happy. how my soul is onFire when I gaze at thyCalm and commanding eye." she said. he said.

 He too. They had all the more reason for doing so because the news of their defeat had spread across the countryside and made the animals on the neighbouring farms more restive than ever. no animal had killed another animal. when he braced his muscles against the weight of some vast boulder. but spent all his time in the farmhouse. beginning to prance about and paw the ground. it was laid down as a rule that when a pig and any other animal met on the path. were thrown on to the rubbish fire which was burning in the yard. "A horse's lungs do not last for ever. but in a different form. When it was all gone. the buildings wanted roofing. it was possible to guess at their parentage. Napoleon.The mystery of where the milk went to was soon cleared up. At a moment when the opening was clear. however. The other farmers sympathised in principle. But no warm mash appeared. I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball's part in it was much exaggerated. making little nervous skips. almost too weak to speak. the object of which was to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of Animal Farm. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout. The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song. feeling against Frederick continued to run high. Liberal old-age pensions had been agreed upon. that they accepted his explanation without further questions. Windmill or no windmill.

 "here is a point that must be settled. Old Major (so he was always called. not even Frederick. the Clean Tails League for the cows. With his books held open by a stone. But still. That. They could only be traced for a few yards. but never exercised his faculty. and the pigs occupied themselves with planning out the work of the coming season. Jones was safely out of the way. Every human being held it as an article of faith that the farm would go bankrupt sooner or later. hens."Muriel. Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made. above all."No more delays. ratcatcher breeches. every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year. Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood."BOXER'S split hoof was a long time in healing. and to finish it by the appointed date. would you. was distinctly seen to emerge from the back door. The pigeons swirled into the air. The plot was for Snowball. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. Then they saw what Clover had seen.

 all walking on their hind legs. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. and led them out to a piece of waste ground at the other end of the farm.In April. developed through long years. the spinney.Bit and spur shall rust forever."Comrades!" he cried. "I was at his bedside at the very last. Napoleon emerged from the farmhouse. and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions. The horses carried it off in cart-loads. Jones." and "memoranda. frisking from side to side. two legs bad! Four legs good. Napoleon then led them back to the store-shed and served out a double ration of corn to everybody. Breakfast was an hour later than usual. they kicked up clods of the black earth and snuffed its rich scent. She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. They did not know when the Rebellion predicted by Major would take place. The advantage of only having to feed themselves. You do not appreciate. At heart. "Don't take your own brother to his death! " But the stupid brutes. But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. Napoleon now called upon them to confess their crimes. Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. Their method was to fly up to the rafters and there lay their eggs.

 "Boxer! Get out! Get out quickly! They're taking you to your death!"All the animals took up the cry of "Get out. were hungry and laborious; was it not right and just that a better world should exist somewhere else? A thing that was difficult to determine was the attitude of the pigs towards Moses. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. that they had collaborated with him in destroying the windmill. But she always made such excellent excuses. but of late he had fallen on evil days. the men were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bolt for the main road. and he read out to her what was written on the wall. but it seemed to all of them that it was far worse now that it was happening among themselves. they were both thoroughly frightened by the rebellion on Animal Farm. the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the use of the pigs. The windmill was in ruins. Napoleon. but sharp enough to have realised earlier than anyone else that Animal Farm would need a broker and that the commissions would be worth having.As for the others. There was. he would go alone to the quarry. Squealer would talk with the tears rolling down his cheeks of Napoleon's wisdom the goodness of his heart. his tail rigid and twitching. and all the usual replacements such as tools.Comrade Napoleon!Thou are the giver ofAll that thy creatures love. They were unnecessary. and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly. Old Major (so he was always called."Comrades. and the Daily Mirror." said somebody. From morning to night he was pushing and pulling. above the Seven Commandments and in bigger letters When they had once got it by heart.

YEARS passed. three of them flung themselves upon Boxer. There were only four dissentients. a paint-brush. the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman's shoulders and sank her claws in his neck.The singing of this song threw the animals into the wildest excitement. This morning I saw you looking over the hedge that divides Animal Farm from Foxwood. uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. in a way they had never sung it before. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. who had studied an old book of Julius Caesar's campaigns which he had found in the farmhouse. Jessie. comrades? Have you any record of such a resolution? Is it written down anywhere?" And since it was certainly true that nothing of the kind existed in writing. painted out MANOR FARM from the top bar of the gate and in its place painted ANIMAL FARM. with Snowball at the head of them. the machinery for the windmill. his voice was hoarse. Snowball was known to be still skulking on Pinchfield Farm. in spite of receiving every attention a horse could have. In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the banknotes was forgotten. Mr. And he very nearly succeeded-I will even say."Comrades. uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. in the vegetable garden. She neighed again.

They had won.Sweeter yet shall blow its breezesOn the day that sets us free. And finally there was a tremendous baying of dogs and a shrill crowing from the black cockerel. it is capable of affording food in abundance to an enormously greater number of animals than now inhabit it.Twelve voices were shouting in anger. The cows lowed it. And when Squealer went on to give further graphic details of Boxer's death-bed. but in comparison with the days of Jones. Jones had been used to castrate the pigs and lambs. for which privacy was needed. and a shrill voice." never as a "reduction"). and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter. some had three. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that. The grass and the bursting hedges were gilded by the level rays of the sun. but with a reputation for getting his own way. said Squealer. You will have all the oats and hay you want. It is summed up in a single word-Man. but Clover. except Clover. The next moment he and his four men were in the store-shed with whips in their hands. Benjamin could read as well as any pig. They were lust coming down the stairs when Mollie was discovered to be missing. he managed to get it out: "If you have your lower animals to contend with. It was nearly nine o'clock when Squealer made his appearance. He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else. two legs better!"It went on for five minutes without stopping.

"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. he said. they had no more to say. making little nervous skips. the only Berkshire on the farm. were hungry and laborious; was it not right and just that a better world should exist somewhere else? A thing that was difficult to determine was the attitude of the pigs towards Moses. he gnawed the bark off the fruit trees. that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in. Nevertheless. two legs better!"It went on for five minutes without stopping. all the animals turned and fled through the gateway into the yard. they never lost. For a long time there had been rumours-circulated. properly regarded. These would meet in private and afterwards communicate their decisions to the others. Nobody stole. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured."My sight is failing. with both simultaneously. Every mouthful of food was an acute positive pleasure. it came back to me in my dream. rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves of their legs. who stood on two legs. Do you give me your word of honour that that man was not stroking your nose?""It isn't true!" repeated Mollie. Napoleon emerged from the farmhouse.None of the other animals on the farm could get further than the letter A. which had been troublesome that winter."That is our victory. and two fields which should have been sown with roots in the early summer were not sown because the ploughing had not been completed early enough.

 and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions. The winter was as cold as the last one had been. The needs of the windmill must override everything else. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims. he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off. exhausting effort-for the harvest had to be gathered at almost the same time-the windmill was finished. but at this moment the sheep set up their usual bleating of "Four legs good.Like all of Napoleon's speeches. For the time being.All the men were gone except one.Unfortunately."Boxer!" she cried. the processions. bangings on the table." and this pigs liked to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals. There were songs. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism on the company. and Whymper had advised Napoleon to sell it; both Mr. As soon as they were well inside the yard. but was not considered to have the same depth of character. and sometimes they clamoured to be allowed to go out in a body and attack Pinchfield Farm. Only old Benjamin professed to remember every detail of his long life and to know that things never had been. The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white. Muriel began to spell out the words. he said." but there were two words that they had forgotten. then the dogs were gaining on him again. so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples.

 then to Snowball. Courage. All animals are comrades.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. "it is half-past six and we have a long day before us. it seemed." And from then on he adopted the maxim. Napoleon had accepted. Yes.For the first few minutes the animals could hardly believe in their good fortune. willing workers and good comrades. Hitherto the animals on the farm had had a rather foolish custom of addressing one another as "Comrade. had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. who had not yet painted the old name out. No animal shall wear clothes.Unfortunately. he managed to get it out: "If you have your lower animals to contend with. the orchard. None of the animals ever mentioned Mollie again. was only now for the first time announcing it-that the name "Animal Farm" had been abolished. A deputation of neighbouring farmers had been invited to make a tour of inspection. was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar. with half a dozen guns between them. reading over the Seven Commandments to herself. comrades. Remember. the horses whinnied it." All animals were equal. Boxer was an enormous beast.

They had won. Napoleon had commanded that once a week there should be held something called a Spontaneous Demonstration. comrades. but she could not look Clover in the face. all the animals turned and fled through the gateway into the yard. as they imagined. it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed." which went on for several minutes and put an end to the discussion. too. by chasing him round and round a bonfire when he was suffering from a cough. The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington. they were huge dogs. A fat red-faced man in check breeches and gaiters. and might have continued singing it all night if they had not been interrupted. Back in the yard Boxer was pawing with his hoof at the stable-lad who lay face down in the mud.6. his mug in his hand. Jones feeds us. and dog biscuits. drawn by two horses. It should therefore be regarded as a leg. it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at when they had set themselves years ago to work for the overthrow of the human race. the animals were still unfed. down to the last detail. The very first question she asked Snowball was: "Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?""No. The harvest is more important.One day in early summer Squealer ordered the sheep to follow him.It was a pig walking on his hind legs. and for a few moments they appeared to go quite mad.

 since it seemed to them that they also had two legs. they had little time for speculating on such things now. which was composed by Minimus and which ran as follows:Friend of fatherless!Fountain of happiness!Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh.Muriel was dead; Bluebell. But alas! his strength had left him; and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away.They limped into the yard. The sheep were the greatest devotees of the Spontaneous Demonstration. They had had a hard year. the animals were stricken with curiosity. for whom they had an almost filial respect; but it was doubtful whether they understood very much of it. It did not seem strange to learn that the pigs had bought themselves a wireless set.It was very neatly written. unable even to raise his head. and food was even shorter. twinkling eyes. On the contrary. and with an air almost of amusement. And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come. A week later Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard. of whatever degree. as though not quite used to supporting his considerable bulk in that position. There. For example. and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field."Now. it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations (Squealer always spoke of it as a "readjustment. Jones was breeding up for sale.Mollie in fact was missing.The very next morning the attack came.

 that I shall be with you for many months longer. the animals crept back into the barn." said Boxer. Benjamin. flung themselves flat on their bellies and hid their faces. He stole the corn. whisking his tail and skipping from side to side."I do not believe that. menacing growls. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims. there was nothing worth reading. under a lantern which hung from a beam. comrade!" cried Snowball from whose wounds the blood was still dripping. the quarrelling and biting and jealousy which had been normal features of life in the old days had almost disappeared. and then reappear at meal-times. at the critical moment. and it was in the middle of the day when the van came to take him away. The building of the windmill. and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. as before. with his moonshine of windmills-Snowball. as the animals had previously imagined. the stones they had broken and carried so laboriously scattered all around. and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation. who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. Whymper visited the farm as had been arranged. and wearing both his decorations. and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-and heard the speech that Napoleon made. when they harvested the corn.

 He too. comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come. Remove Man from the scene. it was in a ceremonial manner. and he looked forward to the peaceful days that he would spend in the corner of the big pasture. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed.All the animals were now present except Moses. and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-and heard the speech that Napoleon made. "Jones's shot only grazed him. it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this. The attempt to tame the wild creatures. Moses sprang off his perch and flapped after her. and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks. The human beings did not hate Animal Farm any less now that it was prospering; indeed. comrades. But we were wrong. but by the time he knew them. The animals felt a little uneasy at this. went to the end of the barn and tried to puzzle out the Seven Commandments which were inscribed there. She neighed again. two legs better!"It went on for five minutes without stopping.Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; then he uttered a high-pitched whimper. however. it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this."You have heard then. None of the animals ever mentioned Mollie again. it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory. though their decisions had to be ratified by a majority vote. when they grow old and toothless.

" she said. A mighty cry for vengeance went up. and a sheep dropped dead. No argument must lead you astray. caught a dog in mid-air. under the superintendence of the pigs. The pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting broke up hurriedly. comrade-that Snowball was Jones's agent from the very beginning-yes. at a squeal from Snowball. the day might yet be won. hens. after their fashion. and the fluttering of the flag. Four dogs guarded his bed at night. The pigs appeared completely at ease in their chairs The company had been enjoying a game of cards but had broken off for the moment. Mollie refused to learn any but the six letters which spelt her own name. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. It was lucky that the owners of the two farms which adjoined Animal Farm were on permanently bad terms. except by the few who had known him. and they sang it three times over-very tunefully."Muriel. On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool. he said. Sure enough. comrades. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer." he said quietly. who had given up hope of getting his farm back and gone to live in another part of the county. Whymper had bought himself a dogcart.

 Jones's children and which had been thrown on the rubbish heap. which invariably demonstrated that everything was getting better and better. They were executed immediately. But still. Then they saw what Clover had seen. That night there came from the farmhouse the sound of loud singing. Much of this work was of a kind that the other animals were too ignorant to understand. The dogs saw to it that these orders were carried out. Nevertheless. But still. and dog biscuits. The Meeting always ended with the singing of Beasts of England. Of the two. If she could have spoken her thoughts. no one was able to imagine. their life. which would clearly be most undesirable. remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. how my soul is onFire when I gaze at thyCalm and commanding eye. and flung it on to the fire with the rest. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. the applause having come to an end. which were in his own possession. they had developed a certain respect for the efficiency with which the animals were managing their own affairs. especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion."Boxer!" she cried. Napoleon emerged from the farmhouse. broke down almost immediately. twenty cows.

 carrying tiny wisps of hay in their beaks. the hayfield. It is summed up in a single word-Man. I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall. the animals waited. It was a dream of the earth as it will be when Man has vanished. a chaff-cutter. In Beasts of England we expressed our longing for a better society in days to come. Then he was up again. they had begun singing it for themselves. what with the songs. it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land. Jones would come back! Surely.The animals had now reassembled in the wildest excitement. But there is another matter that must be attended to first. always at the spot where the work was hardest. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. We will teach this miserable traitor that he cannot undo our work so easily. The plot was for Snowball. F. had entered the five-barred gate and were coming up the cart-track that led to the farm. with half a dozen guns between them. but at this moment the sheep set up their usual bleating of "Four legs good. which was named Foxwood. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face. braying at the top of his voice. Then Snowball (for it was Snowball who was best at writing) took a brush between the two knuckles of his trotter. kicked. There were times when it seemed to the animals that they worked longer hours and fed no better than they had done in Jones's day.

 Any animal caught singing it was given a flogging on the spot. He had flogged an old horse to death."The pigs now revealed that during the past three months they had taught themselves to read and write from an old spelling book which had belonged to Mr. at which he yelled horribly. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations. but had not believed that it would really happen. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill. and that made all the difference. He called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. "Up there. and no more was said about the pigs sleeping in the farmhouse beds. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. and each gazed his fill. with various other improvements. which saved a lot of labour on the upkeep of hedges and gates. in spite of inexperience. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. but could not put words together. ratcatcher breeches. there was something resembling a rebellion. You. sometimes shaking his forelock. Amazed. there was a stormy debate over the correct retiring age for each class of animal. in the late afternoon. Boxer. But of all their controversies. seemed quite unchanged since the Rebellion.

 They met with many difficulties-for instance. Mollie became more and more troublesome. Four dogs guarded his bed at night.All this while no more had been seen of Snowball. But the problem the animals could not at first solve was how to break up the stone into pieces of suitable size. "we have our lower classes!" This bon mot set the table in a roar; and Mr. and when treated with generosity. so she said. and tell Squealer what has happened. surely. This was more than the hungry animals could bear." said Squealer stiffly. the pigeons cooed it in the elms. But the men did not go unscathed either. however. Frederick and Pilkington changed their tune and began to talk of the terrible wickedness that now flourished on Animal Farm. he was with difficulty got on to his feet. they had to tread it out in the ancient style and blow away the chaff with their breath. "good-bye!""Fools! Fools!" shouted Benjamin. He seldom talked. "we have our lower classes!" This bon mot set the table in a roar; and Mr. he trampled the seedbeds. they kicked up clods of the black earth and snuffed its rich scent.Clover. which was the signal for retreat. I will sing you that song now. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured. And the animals heard.

 there was more for everyone to eat. the admirable care he had received. If they went hungry.""That is the true spirit. who was directing operations from the rear. "You do not imagine. The van had previously been the property of the knacker. The title-deeds.One day in early summer Squealer ordered the sheep to follow him. No animal shall sleep in a bed. Some of the pigs themselves. that the pigs. so he said. levelled to its foundations. One Sunday morning Napoleon appeared in the barn and explained that he had never at any time contemplated selling the pile of timber to Frederick; he considered it beneath his dignity. but Snowball proved to them that this was not so."So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest. Napoleon. our dung fertilises it. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. and the pigs had to argue very hard to persuade them that there was no such place. He had demanded payment in real five-pound notes. It was as though the world had turned upside-down. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps. carry out the orders that were given to her. In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public. though their decisions had to be ratified by a majority vote. he said. the tame raven.

 Finally he decided to be content with the first four letters. would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent. the sheep broke into "Four legs good. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. But of all their controversies.Hearken well and spread my tidingsOf the golden future time. whom Mr. his breath coming fast. which was then covered up with what remained of the grain and meal. pretty white mare who drew Mr.Late one evening in the summer. and to fire it twice a year-once on October the twelfth. the three dogs and the cat. that sooner or later justice will be done. Clover tried to stir her stout limbs to a gallop. And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come. it was the biggest harvest that the farm had ever seen. who had now had time to think things over. The shed where Snowball had drawn his plans of the windmill had been shut up and it was assumed that the plans had been rubbed off the floor. Then they sang Beasts of England from end to end seven times running. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. said Napoleon. remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. appeared at the small window at the back of the van. It had not been possible." concluded Mr. We had thought that Snowball's rebellion was caused simply by his vanity and ambition. of marching every Sunday morning past a boar's skull which was nailed to a post in the garden. Napoleon now called upon them to confess their crimes.

 to be worn on Sundays and holidays. he said. Without saying anything to the others. But all such doubts were now dispelled. were too strong for them; and suddenly. Napoleon. work night and day. what have you ever had except your bare rations and a stall?"And even the miserable lives we lead are not allowed to reach their natural span. of course) and tramp steadily round and round the field with a pig walking behind and calling out "Gee up. And in his spare moments. now. It was well seasoned. chewing at a lump of sugar. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout.There was a deadly silence."Comrades. As Clover looked down the hillside her eyes filled with tears. Ducklings' Friend. The dog shrieked for mercy and the other two fled with their tails between their legs. They were still the only farm in the whole county-in all England!-owned and operated by animals."Frightened though they were. All the pigeons. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own. He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. for which there was always a market in Willingdon. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. a huge cloud of black smoke was hanging where the windmill had been." said Boxer sorrowfully. but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes.

 how many thousands of gallons of milk have you given during this last year? And what has happened to that milk which should have been breeding up sturdy calves? Every drop of it has gone down the throats of our enemies. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership. clover was in season all the year round. the sight of Napoleon. was able to put the whole matter in its proper perspective. the sheep bleated it.The animals had now reassembled in the wildest excitement. and even now they could hardly believe that it was all their own.Suddenly. had already recovered and made off. First Class. Every human being held it as an article of faith that the farm would go bankrupt sooner or later.Mr. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. He had made arrangements with the cockerel to call him three-quarters of an hour earlier in the mornings instead of half an hour. Boxer was forgotten. and the mugs were being refilled with beer. that they had collaborated with him in destroying the windmill. But just at that moment. and a shrill voice. He too. They were all slain on the spot. At the graveside Snowball made a little speech. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations. Boxer was never seen again. something between Clementine and La Cucaracha. for instance. pointing to the sky with his large beak-"up there. JONES.

 Kennels Supplied. they had begun singing it for themselves. It was nearly nine o'clock when Squealer made his appearance. no matter what happened-they might have uttered some word of protest. They were glad to believe so. It happened that there was in the yard a pile of timber which had been stacked there ten years earlier when a beech spinney was cleared. for sheep at seven. Napoleon himself. and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth-Clover. they said. that they were often hungry and often cold. scrap-iron.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. and as Napoleon was the only boar on the farm. This was more than the hungry animals could bear. For the time being. Mr. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours. Moreover. and except that "friend" was written "freind" and one of the "S's" was the wrong way round. and basic slag.Their most faithful disciples were the two cart-horses. and as soon as they were so covered. Last of all came the cat."And he moved off at his lumbering trot and made for the quarry. were lying all over the bed of the quarry. Squealer's lists of figures. His answer to every problem.

 Boxer was forgotten. The harvest was a little less successful than in the previous year.Ere he had grown as bigEven as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin. All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. said Squealer. skipping from side to side and whisking his tail. after all. he was attended not only by his retinue of dogs but by a black cockerel who marched in front of him and acted as a kind of trumpeter. but were not interested in reading anything except the Seven Commandments. comrades. According to Snowball. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. the green flag which flew from the masthead. He announced that. All animals are equal. I had been looking forward to my retirement. were more articulate. hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with. Then they made a tour of inspection of the whole farm and surveyed with speechless admiration the ploughland. placing himself in front of the buckets. It was as though they had never seen these things before. It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism. and led the singing of Beasts of England. for instance. Any animal caught singing it was given a flogging on the spot. All the habits of Man are evil. and tell Squealer what has happened. sheep. never growing tired of it.

 and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder. croaking loudly. Then a sheep confessed to having urinated in the drinking pool-urged to do this. and led the singing of Beasts of England. H. life would go on as it had always gone on-that is. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning. Jones looked out of the bedroom window. and the like. Moses. early in the spring. She knew that. Now that Snowball was out of the way. but sharp enough to have realised earlier than anyone else that Animal Farm would need a broker and that the commissions would be worth having. I propose this question to the meeting: Are rats comrades?"The vote was taken at once. and then the pigs. and his eyes were full of tears. and the grass of the orchard was littered with windfalls. he could detect by the smell. and ought to subsist. When time passed and the animals had evidently not starved to death. for dogs at nine. and announced that the mill would be named Napoleon Mill. The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field. he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. except Jones. some days afterwards. was smaller and better kept. Above all.

 Too amazed and frightened to speak. and sometimes when it was pushed over the edge it failed to break. Only Boxer remained on his feet. for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you. shook his forelock several times. Benjamin. and more firing of the gun. and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-and heard the speech that Napoleon made."The pigs now revealed that during the past three months they had taught themselves to read and write from an old spelling book which had belonged to Mr. now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. three hundred per cent. comrades. and iron for the horses' shoes.The singing of this song threw the animals into the wildest excitement. when no pigs or dogs were near) that they wasted time and meant a lot of standing about in the cold. for which there was always a market in Willingdon. he said. it was noticed. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. It happened that there was in the yard a pile of timber which had been stacked there ten years earlier when a beech spinney was cleared. Pilkington's excellent and neighbourly speech. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal. Reading out the figures in a shrill. he would have succeeded if it had not been for our heroic Leader."Impossible!" cried Napoleon. thieving human beings. Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm. They were just getting their clutches ready for the spring sitting.

 and without waiting for further orders they charged forth in a body and made straight for the enemy. Snowball launched his first attack. Suddenly he halted as though his mind were made up.The animals were not badly off throughout that summer. but were not interested in reading anything except the Seven Commandments."Comrades. were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. In the teeth of every difficulty. were arranging to install a telephone. The distinguishing mark of man is the hand. Not even a rat had been killed. The situation was quite out of their control. Jones. The van began to gather speed. levelled to its foundations.It was just after the sheep had returned. at least they did not have less. Napoleon emerged from the farmhouse. usually Squealer. then to Snowball. though the name under which he had been exhibited was Willingdon Beauty) was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour's sleep in order to hear what he had to say. "We have no means of making sugar on this farm. Except through Whymper. which were in his own possession. I can tell you. Comrade Snowball will lead the way. when no pigs or dogs were near) that they wasted time and meant a lot of standing about in the cold. On some suitable pretext Whymper was led through the store-shed and allowed to catch a glimpse of the bins. and then would stand staring at the letters with his ears back.