they understood very much of it." said Snowball.

 until today
 until today. who had been hiding behind the hedge. They had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neighbouring farms. hunters refused their fences and shot their riders on to the other side. whatever the appearances might be. They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary. it seemed to the animals that they did remember it. and shouting down the sheep. when the animals got to close quarters. They could not knock it down in a week." she said. Amazed. One day. These two disliked each other so much that it was difficult for them to come to any agreement. he said. In the evenings she lay in his stall and talked to him. with various other improvements. exhausting effort-for the harvest had to be gathered at almost the same time-the windmill was finished. were all flung down the well. The news of what had happened sped round the farm like wildfire. the pigeons fluttered up to the rafters.2. "War is war. Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw. without bothering to feed the animals. which was the signal for retreat. was a spy and a tale-bearer. it must have done so.

 This farm which he had the honour to control. laborious. If she herself had had any picture of the future. A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance. Man is the only real enemy we have. but never exercised his faculty. towards the end of January it became obvious that it would be necessary to procure some more grain from somewhere. and had taken to drinking more than was good for him. It was impossible now to venture out of the shelter of the buildings. All animals should go naked. These would meet in private and afterwards communicate their decisions to the others. and mangel-wurzelsShall be ours upon that day. where they were toppled over the edge. comrades. but for a moment he was too overcome by amusement to be able to utter it. and avoided him as much as possible. Then there came a moment when the first shock had worn off and when. though they were only conducted through Whymper. They rolled in the dew. there lay a ladder broken in two pieces. we should starve to death. No creature called any other creature "Master."What victory. he said. though. to which all animals went when they died. clever or simple. who slept on a perch behind the back door.

 and all the animals broke into a gallop and rushed into the yard. had all been prepared."Where is Mollie?" exclaimed somebody. which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive. But still.But when the animals saw the green flag flying. which are the mark of a human being. "those ribbons that you are so devoted to are the badge of slavery. "You do not imagine. the tame raven. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. as though nothing had happened.He would end his remarks. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. who seldom moved out of a walk. who should have been the support and pleasure of your old age? Each was sold at a year old-you will never see one of them again. and all the sheep. "What he has done since is different. And about half an hour later. some days afterwards. above the Seven Commandments and in bigger letters When they had once got it by heart. it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land. rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves of their legs. Every human being held it as an article of faith that the farm would go bankrupt sooner or later. not even human life. some had four. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill. urinated over the plans.

 clever or simple. and short. Squealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes. The windmill had been successfully completed at last. They tiptoed from room to room. Snowball stood up and. executed by Squealer in white paint. it was in a ceremonial manner. He was rumoured to be hiding on one of the neighbouring farms. From now onwards Animal Farm would engage in trade with the neighbouring farms: not. levelled to its foundations. They continued to behave very much as before. but by the time he knew them. but of late he had fallen on evil days. and the produce of our labour would be our own. A large jug was circulating. and later on. and other necessary arts from books which they had brought out of the farmhouse. were also said to be in league with Snowball. and this sudden uprising of creatures whom they were used to thrashing and maltreating just as they chose. Second Class. "Are you certain that this is not something that you have dreamed. that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in. but of late he had fallen on evil days. After this they went back to the farm buildings. Benjamin nodded his long muzzle. The early apples were now ripening. Not even a rat had been killed.

 thieving human beings. who had been sent out on the day before. who should have been the support and pleasure of your old age? Each was sold at a year old-you will never see one of them again. they were soon driven back. And when the nine dogs of Napoleon's own bodyguard. A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance. Muriel. who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems. 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. And in rebuilding it they could not this time. They dashed straight for Snowball. These two disagreed at every point where disagreement was possible. and a number of the pigs. and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges.At this there was a terrible baying sound outside. admiring the strength and perpendicularity of its walls and marvelling that they should ever have been able to build anything so imposing. Why then do we continue in this miserable condition? Because nearly the whole of the produce of our labour is stolen from us by human beings. The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges. more hay. and the men easily drove the geese off with their sticks. Then a sheep confessed to having urinated in the drinking pool-urged to do this. Some day it was coming: it might not be soon.Three days later it was announced that he had died in the hospital at Willingdon. They were executed immediately. The harness-room at the end of the stables was broken open; the bits." he said finally. For myself I do not grumble. Boxer could not get beyond the letter D.

 Napoleon's own creation. All animals are comrades. Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels. After the harvest there was a stretch of clear dry weather. however. to which all animals went when they died."Here Squealer's demeanour suddenly changed. After a little thought. that any animal could be so stupid. one or two were even a trifle unsteady and looked as though they would have liked the support of a stick. after a few preliminary tries. for I am one of the lucky ones. and once on Midsummer Day. Even the ducks and hens toiled to and fro all day in the sun. The pellets under the skin of Boxer's leg smarted painfully. The others reproached her sharply. were all flung down the well. In the evenings she lay in his stall and talked to him. There was only one candidate.Beasts of England. Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. Slowly the breeze drifted it away. delivering orders to Whymper. it was that they did not want Jones back."At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before. Some day it was coming: it might not be soon. flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse.

 where Mrs. which had lost their mother. sing Beasts of England. not working. there was as yet no contact between Animal Farm and the outside world. The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges. as usual. Forward. Napoleon had commanded that once a week there should be held something called a Spontaneous Demonstration. he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off. their last doubts disappeared and the sorrow that they felt for their comrade's death was tempered by the thought that at least he had died happy. no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind.For the first few minutes the animals could hardly believe in their good fortune. It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. never to engage in trade. Boxer was forgotten. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. it must be right. This work was strictly voluntary."It says. there was a stormy debate over the correct retiring age for each class of animal. voiced the general feeling by saying: "If Comrade Napoleon says it. This was of the highest importance for the welfare of the farm. "I was at his bedside at the very last. After a little thought. Pilkington. with his moonshine of windmills-Snowball. Whymper had bought himself a dogcart.

 the sight of Napoleon. Nevertheless. simply as a manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball. enjoying a drink at the pool. Muriel began to spell out the words. According to Snowball. for sheep at seven. work hard.However. two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge. too. and they often interrupted the Meeting with this.All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. Frequently he did not even appear on Sunday mornings. They were going to knock the windmill down. he would move rapidly to and fro. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge. all the animals dispersed. The attempt to tame the wild creatures." he said. The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges. Throughout the whole period of his seeming friendship with Pilkington. such as the sheep."It's no longer needed. But it was some minutes before they could fully take it in. which he had conferred upon himself. It was a dream of the earth as it will be when Man has vanished.

 Finally there came a night when the gale was so violent that the farm buildings rocked on their foundations and several tiles were blown off the roof of the barn. Even the cat suddenly leapt off a roof onto a cowman's shoulders and sank her claws in his neck. if more money were needed. when Boxer had somewhat recovered. the stores of food for the winter were none too plentiful. One of the cows broke in the door of the store-shed with her horn and all the animals began to help themselves from the bins.Presently the tumult died down. But the superior quality of Napoleon's mind. Jones's children and which had been thrown on the rubbish heap. and the pigs had great difficulty in making them see that this was contrary to the spirit of Animalism. were a great success. with a flock of geese hissing after them and pecking at their calves all the way. And then. None of the animals ever mentioned Mollie again. no animal had killed another animal. there was the schoolhouse for the young pigs. that happy country where we poor animals shall rest for ever from our labours!" He even claimed to have been there on one of his higher flights. Sure enough. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. rain or shine. who had been sent out on the day before. no other animal had ever left the farm. the only Berkshire on the farm. On Sunday mornings Squealer. and then where should we be? Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball. in spite of inexperience.Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week.

 "Do you not see what they are doing? In another moment they are going to pack blasting powder into that hole. the sheep bleated it. they had no more to say. At the foot of the end wall of the big barn. But a moment later his face disappeared from the window and there was the sound of a tremendous drumming of hoofs inside the van. was distinctly seen to emerge from the back door. Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the holding of debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back. It is summed up in a single word-Man. painted out MANOR FARM from the top bar of the gate and in its place painted ANIMAL FARM. Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment. a solicitor living in Willingdon. or has wings. fifteen pounds of hay.It was a source of great satisfaction to him. sugar for Napoleon's own table (he forbade this to the other pigs. beside the gun. the foolish. Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler. It was the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited-indeed. he amused himself in the evenings by making cocks fight with splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs. where they were toppled over the edge. and except that "friend" was written "freind" and one of the "S's" was the wrong way round. the geese. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill. A minute later all five of them were in full flight down the cart-track that led to the main road. he said. the improvement was enormous. with a carrot or possibly an apple on public holidays.

 a mangel-slicer. casting haughty glances from side to side. and finally squeezed herself in between Boxer and Clover; there she purred contentedly throughout Major's speech without listening to a word of what he was saying. The rats. was to be ploughed up. Tomorrow Frederick's wagons would arrive and begin carting it away. and not for a pack of idle. Four dogs guarded his bed at night. who had given up hope of getting his farm back and gone to live in another part of the county. the other argued that if rebellions happened everywhere they would have no need to defend themselves. 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. The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night. but a discipline and an orderliness which should be an example to all farmers everywhere. however. before the regular day's work began. in the vegetable garden. how even animals could bring themselves to sing such contemptible rubbish. I can tell you. They rolled in the dew. each working according to his capacity. which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time. The pigeons swirled into the air. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then. Jones was already snoring. The four pigs waited. when the laws of Animal Farm were first formulated.

 and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull. He said that Comrade Napoleon had learned with the very deepest distress of this misfortune to one of the most loyal workers on the farm. The flag was run up and Beasts of England was sung a number of times. his mug in his hand. but she did not sound very convinced. "good-bye!""Fools! Fools!" shouted Benjamin. Comrade Napoleon. They were the same four pigs as had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday Meetings. now and in the past. said Squealer. the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory. In the evening he returned to the farmhouse himself. flap his black wings." which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. C. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. No creature called any other creature "Master. he upset the milk-pails. when no pigs or dogs were near) that they wasted time and meant a lot of standing about in the cold. A week later Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard. and each gazed his fill. he said. But it was some minutes before they could fully take it in. Whoever had thoroughly grasped it would be safe from human influences. but she could not look Clover in the face. teaching them to sing a new song. Jones would come back! Surely. the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted.

 Napoleon produced no schemes of his own. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. Now that the small field beyond the orchard had been set aside for barley. a sign in him of intense mental activity. collect a load of broken stone. Whatever happened she would remain faithful. so he said. he was with difficulty got on to his feet. "Animal Hero. but never exercised his faculty. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. that happy country where we poor animals shall rest for ever from our labours!" He even claimed to have been there on one of his higher flights. where they were toppled over the edge. who sprang out of bed. they were far better off than they had been in the days of Jones. which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work. Such is the natural life of a pig. then the dogs were gaining on him again.Napoleon. and the mugs were being refilled with beer. in the vegetable garden. too ignorant to realise what was happening. for instance.He should have learned to beFaithful and true to thee. Jones feeds us. For some time nobody spoke. pigs. three hundred per cent.

 he could detect by the smell. Then Napoleon stood up to reply. Jones. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. and then the pigs. The whole thing would be over in a fortnight. A number of them were already wounded. here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball."Mollie! Look me in the face. none of which could be produced on the farm. The animals found the problem insoluble; in any case. Whatever goes upon four legs. Sure enough. just at the moment when Jones and his men had got inside the yard. however. the poet. Never to have any dealings with human beings. and then by a hard frost which did not break till well into February. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. when I was a little pig. raised his gun and fired. everyone. In past years Mr. a tough. after a few preliminary tries. and the produce of our labour would be our own. and dog biscuits. every inch of it their own property-appeared to the animals so desirable a place.

 of whatever degree. and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder. At such times his lips were seen to form the words. 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. he was sure. We had thought that Snowball's rebellion was caused simply by his vanity and ambition. sharp suspicious glances. how even animals could bring themselves to sing such contemptible rubbish. was a tremendous labour. It was uncertain whether Boxer had understood what Clover had said. whom they both feared and hated. and on occasion a shot was fired from the gun. been present during Boxer's last hours. She appeared to be enjoying herself. various unforeseen shortages began to make them selves felt." These were large sheets of paper which had to be closely covered with writing. there was more for everyone to eat. comrades. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. too. One of Mr.Nevertheless. But once again the men. admiring the strength and perpendicularity of its walls and marvelling that they should ever have been able to build anything so imposing. For a long i. sharp suspicious glances.

 Clover treated the hoof with poultices of herbs which she prepared by chewing them. The pigs did not actually work.Nevertheless. to make of Mr. the fields were full of weeds. Nevertheless. and the enormous difference that would be made in their lives when the sails were turning and the dynamos running-when they thought of all this. and he looked forward to the peaceful days that he would spend in the corner of the big pasture.Though we die before it break;Cows and horses. was as it had always been. but of late he had fallen on evil days. always at the spot where the work was hardest. but it was no use. he said. as she had protected the lost brood of ducklings with her foreleg on the night of Major's speech. You do not appreciate. letting out a loud "cock-a-doodle-doo" before Napoleon spoke. the hedges were neglected. nails.5. Jones had been used to castrate the pigs and lambs. we should starve to death. a little distance beyond the clouds. never to make use of money-had not these been among the earliest resolutions passed at that first triumphant Meeting after Jones was expelled? All the animals remembered passing such resolutions: or at least they thought that they remembered it. were a great success. Then they sang Beasts of England from end to end seven times running. and the next moment all the animals together were chasing them round and round the yard. and already in imagination he braced himself for the task.

 comrades. But somehow neither the words nor the tune ever seemed to the animals to come up to Beasts of England. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old.ne the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done. clover was in season all the year round. Jones's especial pet. and led the singing of Beasts of England. mistaken ideas had been current. with the money at his side. and then the building began. two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either. they hurled themselves into the air in great leaps of excitement.Cruel whips no more shall crack. At the Meeting on the following Sunday the question of whether or not to begin work on the windmill was to be put to the vote. because no animal could stand on his hind legs. and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once. Only Boxer and Clover never lost heart. TWO LEGS BAD.Silent and terrified.Cruel whips no more shall crack." Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. but they accepted his explanation. and there need not be. On Sunday mornings Squealer. they knew every inch of the field. but it had long since passed out of my mind.

In spite of the shock that Snowball's expulsion had given them.. It was only his appearance that was a little altered; his hide was less shiny than it had used to be. attended by two dogs. Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. cheeping feebly and wandering from side to side to find some place where they would not be trodden on. the poet. holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter. rich. some had three. The animals were at breakfast when the look-outs came racing in with the news that Frederick and his followers had already come through the five-barred gate. Jones had been used to castrate the pigs and lambs. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest. a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer. and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. Frederick shouted to his men to get out while the going was good. a schoolroom would be built in the farmhouse garden. However. who in fact was only stunned. 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. One day. Mr. surely they knew their beloved Leader."Gentlemen. And in rebuilding it they could not this time. presided over by himself. Squealer was sent to make the necessary explanations to the others. you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night.

 as though at a signal. he said. and when he was arguing some difficult point he had a way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail which was somehow very persuasive. but simply in order to obtain certain materials which were urgently necessary. without speaking. But the Rebellion is now completed. coal. with their sticks and their hobnailed boots. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. each recounting his own exploits in the battle at the top of his voice. Such were her thoughts. and the animals toiled harder than ever. At the last moment Mollie. through Whymper. The creatures outside looked from pig to man. He repeated a number of times.He had only one criticism. And. They were the same four pigs as had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday Meetings. the writing of the Seven Commandments. the animals walked round and round their masterpiece. with the money at his side. 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. said Squealer. It was impossible now to venture out of the shelter of the buildings. he said. the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water. it was laid down as a rule that when a pig and any other animal met on the path.

 it was not from feeding tyrannical human beings; if they worked hard. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations. merely attempted to lose the Battle of the Cowshed by means of a stratagem. he had reason to think. and made his way up to bed. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. however.That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. The corn ration was drastically reduced. By seeming to be friendly with Pilkington he had forced Frederick to raise his price by twelve pounds. and on the next day it was learned that he had instructed Whymper to purchase in Willingdon some booklets on brewing and distilling. however. FOUR LEGS GOOD. Some of them had five chins. Such were her thoughts."The birds did not understand Snowball's long words. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously. between the shafts of the cart. This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses. I have laid five eggs in six days"; or two cows. By the time he had finished speaking. were arranging to install a telephone. and shouting down the sheep. his voice was hoarse. the thunder of the gun. And when the others came back from looking for her. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal.

 and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth-Clover. They could only be traced for a few yards. All animals are equal. Pilkington and Mr. the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. and got in some last kicks at them as they forced their way through the thorn hedge. he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving. After a little thought. They were all slain on the spot. and the red roofs of the farm buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys. C. "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right. for sheep at seven. but Boxer paid no attention. As the summer wore on. the animals were stricken with curiosity. Once again some of the animals heard this with a certain bewilderment. Boxer saw them coming and put out his great hoof. but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. "It does not matter. came mincing daintily in. as though at a signal. as usual. for the pigs and the dogs. At such times his lips were seen to form the words. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. his eyes dull.

 They saw. Snowball suddenly turned and fled. how my soul is onFire when I gaze at thyCalm and commanding eye. could be done with a thoroughness impossible to human beings. except for being a little greyer about the muzzle. And every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it. Jones. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. The next moment he and his four men were in the store-shed with whips in their hands. Two whole days were given over to celebrations. then stood for a little while contemplating them out of the corner of his eye; then suddenly he lifted his leg. To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch. and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill. so that if he could once get hold of the title-deeds of Animal Farm they would ask no questions. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill. but in comparison with the days of Jones. towards the end of January it became obvious that it would be necessary to procure some more grain from somewhere. when they grow old and toothless. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. By the time he had finished speaking. his first squeak should be"Comrade Napoleon!"Napoleon approved of this poem and caused it to be inscribed on the wall of the big barn. it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory. They had just noticed this when a cry of despair broke from every animal's throat."When Boxer heard this he fetched the small straw hat which he wore in summer to keep the flies out of his ears. almost before they knew what was happening. The Meeting always ended with the singing of Beasts of England.

 give several deep sniffs. and dog biscuits. I hope. However. the great battles in which the human invaders had been defeated. Mr. The others reproached her sharply. The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile."All the other animals immediately raced back to the farmhouse to give Squealer the news. Electricity. He took them up into a loft which could only be reached by a ladder from the harness-room. Boxer's face did not reappear at the window. but in comparison with the days of Jones. And thereafter. the drinking pool. and the next moment the cowardly enemy was running for dear life. and the animals were underfed. the sheep dragged single blocks. and after a single singing of Beasts of England. were also said to be in league with Snowball. as though at a signal. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest. and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly. And in rebuilding it they could not this time. he said. It would be the first time that he had had leisure to study and improve his mind." he said quietly. two legs better! Four legs good.

 C. all walking on their hind legs. But doubtless it had been worse in the old days. were a great success. the white goat. Napoleon had really been in secret agreement with Frederick. had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff. work hard. Jones would come back! Surely. such as the sheep.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. kept the flies off him with his long tail. Tomorrow Frederick's wagons would arrive and begin carting it away. and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder. which had become overgrown with birch saplings. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. He said that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up. when they were astonished to see Benjamin come galloping from the direction of the farm buildings. None of them proved able to learn the alphabet beyond the letter B. hens. TWO LEGS BAD. Snowball was forgotten.Mollie in fact was missing. Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll.And now. and got in some last kicks at them as they forced their way through the thorn hedge. and not having to support five extravagant human beings as well."No more delays.

 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. The windmill was in ruins. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. however. He repeated a number of times. and accept the leadership of Napoleon. in spite of everything-in spite of their terror of the dogs. the crowing of the cockerel. It was just then that Mr.BY THE late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. No question. Some of them had five chins." concluded Mr. And suddenly. So it was agreed without further argument that the milk and the windfall apples (and also the main crop of apples when they ripened) should be reserved for the pigs alone. and the ducklings nestled down inside it and promptly fell asleep." he said. Electricity. but had not believed that it would really happen. Boxer could not get beyond the letter D. The pellets under the skin of Boxer's leg smarted painfully. I hope. Once again all rations were reduced. round the long table. but were not interested in reading anything except the Seven Commandments. When they were all gathered together.BY THE late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. It was as though they had never seen these things before.

 then that it would never work. sheep. what discouragements they had overcome. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. It was uncertain whether Boxer had understood what Clover had said. the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. and teach them the tune of Beasts of England. Whymper visited the farm as had been arranged. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured. and the animals crept silently away. some had three. No animal shall kill any other animal. who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. too."Mollie. Jones ties a brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond. They did not know which was more shocking-the treachery of the animals who had leagued themselves with Snowball. was puzzled. the dog-chains. the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory. It was almost half built now. Comrades. and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-and heard the speech that Napoleon made. From now onwards I shall get up a full hour earlier in the mornings. Her old eyes looked dimmer than ever. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. For days at a time the animals had nothing to eat but chaff and mangels.Three days later there was a terrible hullabaloo.

 had been a capable farmer. She knew that. for the pigs and the dogs. but every one of them made his way right round the yard successfully. as the summer wore on. for instance. If he made a good recovery. He was especially successful with the sheep. The Meeting always ended with the singing of Beasts of England. and a whole flock of geese and hens-everyone." cried Snowball. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point. when Boxer had somewhat recovered. they knew every inch of the field. Too amazed and frightened to speak. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. After the hoisting of the flag. while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. under the superintendence of the pigs. Napoleon.It had come to his knowledge. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. it seemed to them that some strange thing was happening. when bricks and timber had been purchased. with their sticks and their hobnailed boots. and when he did. The four young pigs who had protested when Napoleon abolished the Meetings raised their voices timidly.

 but Squealer spoke so persuasively. it was said. For the time being. hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with.Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; then he uttered a high-pitched whimper. Second Class. a little distance beyond the clouds. and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes. Even so. A pile of straw in a stall is a bed. perfect comradeship in the struggle. then. whisking his tail and skipping from side to side.Apart from the disputes over the windmill. The animals knew that this was not the case. the anniversary of the Rebellion. They rushed back and looked through the window again. The animals now also learned that Snowball had never-as many of them had believed hitherto-received the order of "Animal Hero7 First Class. with Squealer a few rungs below him holding the paint-pot. 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. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. kicked. The importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all too obvious. Snowball did not deny that to build it would be a difficult business." and this pigs liked to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals. for whom they had an almost filial respect; but it was doubtful whether they understood very much of it." said Snowball.