paused.' Those were his very last words. as it turned out.

 and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before
 and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. Did we not give him 'Animal Hero. hens. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal. This time the stones had vanished too. She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. asked somebody. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously. Willingdon. no other animal had ever left the farm. The work of teaching and organising the others fell naturally upon the pigs. There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm. the anniversary of the Rebellion. A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. Frederick were anxious to buy it. I am old and my voice is hoarse. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work. On Midsummer's Eve. contemptible act. She was late for work every morning and excused herself by saying that she had overslept. Only Clover remained. the sheep. But doubtless it had been worse in the old days. Whymper heard nothing of this affair. Some day it was coming: it might not be soon. a schoolroom would be built in the farmhouse garden. it was said. He had.

 as though at a signal. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. But what was it that seemed to be melting and changing? Then. not speaking. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs. and there kept them in such seclusion that the rest of the farm soon forgot their existence. and on occasion a shot was fired from the gun. flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. The farm possessed three horses now besides Clover. Sometimes on the slope leading to the top of the quarry. passed on by word of mouth. Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly. he would not say with hostility. He too.Yes. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest. 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. flap his black wings. The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington. when he inclined toward Pilkington. one of them bearing a scrap of paper from Pilkington. and the eggs were duly delivered. but of late he had fallen on evil days.Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; then he uttered a high-pitched whimper. after a few preliminary tries. that on such a farm a spirit of licence and indiscipline would prevail. bitter battle.

 None of them proved able to learn the alphabet beyond the letter B." which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. it was noticed. As Clover looked down the hillside her eyes filled with tears. and there were some violent debates. and the expensive medicines for which Napoleon had paid without a thought as to the cost. The pigeons swirled into the air. he would move rapidly to and fro. the anniversary of the Battle of the Cowshed. they laboured in the fields; in winter they were troubled by the cold."BOXER'S split hoof was a long time in healing. After a little thought. Jones was already snoring. On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool. It was decided to set the gun up at the foot of the Flagstaff. the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory. two legs bad" at crucial moments in Snowball's speeches. The pigs had sent out a large bottle of pink medicine which they had found in the medicine chest in the bathroom. Terror of Mankind. which saved a lot of labour on the upkeep of hedges and gates. comrades. There lay Boxer.One day in early summer Squealer ordered the sheep to follow him. they all raced out into the pasture together. The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington. huddling together. He had gone out alone to drag a load of stone down to the windmill. Then. that a foolish and wicked rumour had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal.

 At last they could stand it no longer. Even so. Here the work of the coming week was planned out and resolutions were put forward and debated. and set the animals free. Muriel. And finally there was a tremendous baying of dogs and a shrill crowing from the black cockerel. and an electric heater. he said. "Animal Hero. Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs." He was always referred to in formal style as "our Leader. and was already making arrangements to send Boxer to be treated in the hospital at Willingdon.The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. And among us animals let there be perfect unity. But the pigs seemed comfortable enough. comrades!"But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me. or thought they remembered. so it was said-at Foxwood. and sometimes when it was pushed over the edge it failed to break. They were unnecessary. I merely repeat. Even the stupidest of them had already picked up the tune and a few of the words. Every mouthful of food was an acute positive pleasure. mistaken ideas had been current. However.As for the others. One of Mr.

 ratcatcher breeches. where are those four foals you bore. and walked out without uttering a word." she said. It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon. saw what was happening. intended to create a little disorder. and when the key of the store-shed was lost. the geese. It was almost half built now. it might be in a week or in a hundred years. At the sight. Jones's trap. their sense of honour and privilege in being members of Animal Farm. Some did it better than others. He gave it as his opinion that Snowball had probably come from the direction of Foxwood Farm.Once again the animals were conscious of a vague uneasiness.Then they filed back to the farm buildings and halted in silence outside the door of the farmhouse. though. they studied blacksmithing.Meanwhile. comrades. a mangel-slicer. Forward. As for the dogs. as they imagined. Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts. perfect comradeship in the struggle.

 He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time." said Clover. The birds at first objected. the sheep bleated it. All the animals followed. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. The rule was against sheets. uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. under the superintendence of the pigs. but Snowball proved to them that this was not so. some days afterwards. He fell silent for a moment. 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. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps." "minutes. during which time the other animals saw nothing of them. Long live Animal Farm! Long live Comrade Napoleon! Napoleon is always right. And a moment later. The attempt to tame the wild creatures. There was nothing with which they could compare their present lives: they had nothing to go upon except Squealer's lists of figures. All animals are equal. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm. But still. it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance. casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball. comrades. comrade? Have we not driven the enemy off our soil-the sacred soil of Animal Farm? ""But they have destroyed the windmill. and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges.At one end of the big barn.

 the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples.It was just after the sheep had returned. it seemed that nothing kept him on his feet except the will to continue. who were manifestly cleverer than the other animals. F. Jones was safely out of the way. Then there were lamp oil and candles for the house. and it became necessary to elect a President. trembling. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. Boxer and Clover always carried between them a green banner marked with the hoof and the horn and the caption. said Napoleon." He was always referred to in formal style as "our Leader. The dog shrieked for mercy and the other two fled with their tails between their legs. as usual. Clover tried to stir her stout limbs to a gallop. and from long before the Rebellion was ever thought of. Boxer passed it off as usual with "Napoleon is always right!". The animals watched them.Mrs. and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges. Even the horses and the dogs have no better fate. In the evenings she lay in his stall and talked to him. the animals were still unfed. Moses sprang off his perch and flapped after her." she said to him. there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm. the day might yet be won.

 comrade-that Snowball was Jones's agent from the very beginning-yes. and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull. and. since Boxer's death. Many of the animals believed him. In the end they finished the harvest in two days' less time than it had usually taken Jones and his men. and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes. First came the hoisting of the flag.Every Monday Mr. attended by two or three dogs. There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with human beings. with Snowball at the head of them. to have dealings with scoundrels of that description. he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving. comrades. By late summer a sufficient store of stone had accumulated. they knew every inch of the field. This was run up the flagstaff in the farmhouse garden every Sunday 8. the chance to utter any protest had passed. every setback.At last the day came when Snowball's plans were completed. Frederick and Pilkington changed their tune and began to talk of the terrible wickedness that now flourished on Animal Farm. making little nervous skips. No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. The pigeons swirled into the air. it seemed to the animals that they did remember it. Jones too was dead-he had died in an inebriates' home in another part of the country.They limped into the yard. This work was strictly voluntary.

 Boxer. he lurched across the yard. with raging south-west winds. but they saw clearly that it was their duty to prepare for it. Rumours of a wonderful farm. "We all saw him running with blood. two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over. mistaken ideas had been current. At the graveside Snowball made a little speech.) But he maintained that it could all be done in a year. and could not make up their minds which was right; indeed. his mug in his hand. neglected. what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable. and a shrill voice. horses. but the other animals found more inspiration in Boxer's strength and his never-failing cry of "I will work harder! "In January food fell short. I can tell you. his breath coming fast. almost too weak to speak.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water.At the beginning. In his speeches. 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. that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy. and Napoleon himself walked at the head of the procession. and then reappear at meal-times. It was Clover's voice.

 it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations (Squealer always spoke of it as a "readjustment. In desperation the animals began appealing to the two horses which drew the van to stop. was smaller and better kept. in the vegetable garden. that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man.Beasts of every land and clime. it seemed. "read me the Fourth Commandment. hiding on Pinchfield Farm. When it was all gone. which meant collecting much larger quantities of stone. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. and many animals followed him? And do you not remember. so he said. It was decided to set the gun up at the foot of the Flagstaff. Snowball launched his first attack. At first it was a little difficult to see how this fitted in with his being on Jones's side. Napoleon snuffed deeply at them and pronounced them to be Snowball's. comrades. Napoleon emerged from the farmhouse. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. Second Class. unable even to raise his head. Electricity. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start. Frequently he did not even appear on Sunday mornings. After the horses came Muriel. Without saying anything. of Foxwood.

 though she lacked the words to express them. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty. which are the mark of a human being. Jones. it seemed to them that some strange thing was happening. under the superintendence of the pigs. Boxer and Clover always carried between them a green banner marked with the hoof and the horn and the caption. Snowball was declared to be in hiding at Foxwood. with two dogs to wait upon him. at the sound of the mingled voices. Napoleon had commanded that once a week there should be held something called a Spontaneous Demonstration. they were able to forget that their bellies were empty. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes. that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man. The earth was like iron. Benjamin nodded his long muzzle. Between pigs and human beings there was not. But it was some minutes before they could fully take it in. Only old Benjamin refused to grow enthusiastic about the windmill. and a shrill voice. A stump of hay and part of the potato crop were sold off. First Class. and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. how he had rallied and encouraged them at every turn. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm. and it became necessary to elect a President. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. The windmill was in ruins.

 As his last act upon earth. Do you give me your word of honour that that man was not stroking your nose?""It isn't true!" repeated Mollie. as though nothing had happened. The reins. The grass and the bursting hedges were gilded by the level rays of the sun. bitten. In the evening Squealer called them together. The distinguishing mark of man is the hand. croaking loudly. For a long time there had been rumours-circulated. were thrown on to the rubbish fire which was burning in the yard. it was to find that the stable-lad. no complaint was made about that either. And perhaps. presided over by himself. they had the entire song by heart within a few minutes.One Sunday morning.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. it was said.Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; then he uttered a high-pitched whimper. iron discipline! That is the watchword for today. but Squealer spoke so persuasively. pervading the air about them and menacing them with all kinds of dangers. of the Manor Farm.And yet the animals never gave up hope." said Squealer. except for the pigs and dogs. he arrived unexpectedly to examine the plans. One false step.

 reading the newspapers. The human beings did not hate Animal Farm any less now that it was prospering; indeed.He carried a whip in his trotter. and nearly everyone was wounded. By late summer a sufficient store of stone had accumulated. Muriel began to spell out the words. Not even a rat had been killed."Jones used sometimes to mix some of it in our mash. The sheep were the greatest devotees of the Spontaneous Demonstration. Instead-she did not know why-they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind.A thought struck Clover. The Commandments were written on the tarred wall in great white letters that could be read thirty yards away. and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes. was "I will work harder!"-which he had adopted as his personal motto. feeling against Frederick continued to run high. Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler. they had no more to say. comrades.Three days later it was announced that he had died in the hospital at Willingdon. No animal shall sleep in a bed. and pinned him to the ground. But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream. One afternoon in late February a warm. which every animal would do well to adopt as his own. All the animals followed. at a different spot every day. tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes. They were generally hungry. letting out a loud "cock-a-doodle-doo" before Napoleon spoke.

 In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the banknotes was forgotten.This had long been expected. He would put his snout to the ground. and in August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well. There. he had been censured for showing cowardice in the battle. who had begun bleating again. Instead-she did not know why-they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind. The other animals sitting round her took it up. the other animal must stand aside: and also that all pigs. and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-and heard the speech that Napoleon made. sat on the front of the raised platform.At the beginning. Even Napoleon.The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. comrades! Long live the windmill! Long live Animal Farm!"IT WAS a bitter winter. the machinery for the windmill.Riches more than mind can picture. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. "Run. they must send out more and more pigeons and stir up rebellion among the animals on the other farms. Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll. There was need of paraffin oil. Three of them had their heads broken by blows from Boxer's hoofs; another was gored in the belly by a cow's horn; another had his trousers nearly torn off by Jessie and Bluebell. at least part of the time. so that future generations shall carry on the struggle until it is victorious. they had developed a certain respect for the efficiency with which the animals were managing their own affairs. There was nothing there now except a single Commandment. And now-thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon-we have won every inch of it back again!""Then we have won back what we had before.

 the blinkers."Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill. All of them came to look at Snowball's drawings at least once a day. Boxer was an enormous beast. they all raced out into the pasture together. Whenever anything went wrong it became usual to attribute it to Snowball. he said. They were unnecessary. and ducks. with their sticks and their hobnailed boots. who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands. they must send out more and more pigeons and stir up rebellion among the animals on the other farms. and a number of the pigs. an especially devoted follower of Napoleon. to Napoleon's feet." said Squealer. at the beds with their feather mattresses. 'Forward. but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work.Meanwhile. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. but when I have taught you the tune. The horses carried it off in cart-loads. It was a moonlit night. a solicitor living in Willingdon. and the Manor Farm was theirs. however.

" in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder. Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. "It does not matter. of never complaining. roused their pride and partly reconciled them to the new arrangement. I have something else to say first. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. They were shown all over the farm. And so. and he read out to her what was written on the wall. Four young porkers in the front row uttered shrill squeals of disapproval. rich. Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill. but the windmill compensated for everything. when the corn was cut and stacked and some of it was already threshed. but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes. Perhaps this was partly because there were so many pigs and so many dogs. what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable. This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses. He had. for the harvest was an even bigger success than they had hoped. the applause having come to an end. they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. the object of which was to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of Animal Farm. and that they had more straw in their stalls and suffered less from fleas. with the dogs following him. they could already read and write perfectly. She appeared to be enjoying herself. the cows.

 set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill. It had come to be accepted that the pigs. It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon." said Squealer. At first they pretended to laugh to scorn the idea of animals managing a farm for themselves. beasts of Ireland. "how are you?""It is my lung. And in many ways the animal method of doing things was more efficient and saved labour. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. and the red roofs of the farm buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys. string. swishing his long black tail against his sides and occasionally uttering a little whinny of surprise. Every mouthful of food was an acute positive pleasure.Bit and spur shall rust forever. and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments. Some of the pigs themselves. the improvement was enormous. at the opposite end from the Seven Commandments. it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed. Whymper visited the farm as had been arranged. and all the usual replacements such as tools. even for an instant. still did no work. it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance. When they were all gathered together. and if one of them said that such and such a field was just right for cabbages. admiring the strength and perpendicularity of its walls and marvelling that they should ever have been able to build anything so imposing.But if there were hardships to be borne. which would clearly be most undesirable.

 but. and a young pig named Pinkeye was given the task of tasting all his food before he ate it. Pilkington and Mr. Moses the raven.""I have no wish to take life. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter. and the ducklings nestled down inside it and promptly fell asleep. in the dust with his great hoof. Mollie became more and more troublesome. 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 except that "friend" was written "freind" and one of the "S's" was the wrong way round. with the dogs following him. attended by two dogs. and a sheep dropped dead. during which time the other animals saw nothing of them. they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed. 'Forward in the name of the Rebellion.For that day we all must labour. The plans. Boxer was never seen again. 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. and many animals followed him? And do you not remember. 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. Even Napoleon. Benjamin nodded his long muzzle."And remember. but they did not at first give him much help. Major continued:"I have little more to say."At this moment there was a tremendous uproar.

 Sure enough. that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in. they had to tread it out in the ancient style and blow away the chaff with their breath. It was a savage. and with his dogs gambolling round him. whisking his tail and beaming with satisfaction. hens. to be worn on Sundays and holidays. it got into the din of the smithies and the tune of the church bells.In spite of the shock that Snowball's expulsion had given them. is a friend. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. "I had no intention of doing that. Even the stupidest of them had already picked up the tune and a few of the words. They were always cold. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. ratcatcher breeches. Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill. noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong. Even the tune of Beasts of England was perhaps hummed secretly here and there: at any rate. it was the biggest harvest that the farm had ever seen. a violent quarrel was in progress. far too big to be used as they were. and various new buildings had been added to it. teaching them to sing a new song. And when the human beings listened to it. I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball's part in it was much exaggerated. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. It was Clover's voice.

 and expressed great admiration for everything they saw. Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed. the animals walked round and round their masterpiece. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. as we now know.All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. With some difficulty (for it is not easy for a pig to balance himself on a ladder) Snowball climbed up and set to work. they had entered into a plot to murder Napoleon. what had happened to the faces of the pigs. casting haughty glances from side to side. He had. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another. he was strolling across the yard. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him. he does not lay eggs.With one accord they dashed down to the spot. They rushed back and looked through the window again. it seemed that nothing kept him on his feet except the will to continue. tell them the story of the Rebellion.And the harness from our back. the hayfield. but Boxer would never listen to her. The corn ration was drastically reduced. There had also been a very strange custom. but they did not at first give him much help. casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball. There were more songs. There lay Boxer. out from the door of the farmhouse came a long file of pigs.

"And he moved off at his lumbering trot and made for the quarry. Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs. when fierce. and the ducklings nestled down inside it and promptly fell asleep. and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. Whatever happened she would remain faithful. Electricity. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal.Within a few weeks Snowball's plans for the windmill were fully worked out. with two dogs to wait upon him.And the fruitful fields of EnglandShall be trod by beasts alone. "Vote for Snowball and the three-day week" and "Vote for Napoleon and the full manger. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts. enjoying a drink at the pool. Having got there."It says. however. Except for Mollie and Snowball. And when the nine dogs of Napoleon's own bodyguard. the lithograph of Queen Victoria over the drawing-room mantelpiece. We have removed the sheets from the farmhouse beds. congratulating them on their conduct." he said. she fetched Muriel. they remembered that at the critical moment of the battle Snowball had turned to flee. but it was no use. comrades. In Beasts of England we expressed our longing for a better society in days to come. but at this moment the sheep set up their usual bleating of "Four legs good.

 life would go on as it had always gone on-that is. For the time being. for dogs at nine. from the direction of the farm buildings. "Good-bye. They were all carrying sticks. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. who had been hiding behind the hedge. with the money at his side. They were lust coming down the stairs when Mollie was discovered to be missing. neglected. and it was a great drawback that no animal was able to use any tool that involved standing on his hind legs. His very first blow took a stable-lad from Foxwood on the skull and stretched him lifeless in the mud. and later on. or even upon their human employees. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:" 'Alfred Simmonds. but Boxer never faltered. when the green fields of England should be untrodden by human feet. with which the meetings always ended. The cat joined the Re-education Committee and was very active in it for some days. with the money at his side. then to Snowball. though. which was the signal for retreat. various unforeseen shortages began to make them selves felt. but directed and supervised the others. but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work.At last. Of the two.

 came racing up the path on his bicycle. Was not the labour problem the same everywhere? Here it became apparent that Mr."Why?" cried Muriel. The seasons came and went.All orders were now issued through Squealer or one of the other pigs. and he looked forward to the peaceful days that he would spend in the corner of the big pasture. but Snowball proved to them that this was not so. Last night. but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr." said Snowball. but it was cruel work."Why?" cried Muriel. comrades. except Clover."You have heard then. To tell you the truth. no matter what happened-they might have uttered some word of protest. at a different spot every day. the orchard. Clover tried to stir her stout limbs to a gallop. Squealer was with them for the greater part of every day. however. There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on them after his own fashion. I dislike them myself. He said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it. Benjamin. who sprang out of bed. there was more for everyone to eat. was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end.

 if you were able to read it. comrades. Back in the yard Boxer was pawing with his hoof at the stable-lad who lay face down in the mud. Boxer saw them coming and put out his great hoof. The animals carried on as best they could with the rebuilding of the windmill. Benjamin?"For once Benjamin consented to break his rule. This was more than the hungry animals could bear. the human beings were inventing fresh lies about Animal Farm. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. who sprang out of bed. He himself dashed straight for Jones. I have laid five eggs in six days"; or two cows. Finally he said:"I do not understand it. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. he said. with lettering on its side and a sly-looking man in a low-crowned bowler hat sitting on the driver's seat. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. from the direction of the farm buildings. when Jones's expulsion was still recent. Sometimes the long hours on insufficient food were hard to bear. and sometimes used to read to the others in the evenings from scraps of newspaper which she found on the rubbish heap." he said. and ducks. I could show you this in his own writing. this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year. Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood. or even carried her off with them. he said. however.

 Alone among the animals on the farm he never laughed. until there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood. with half a dozen guns between them. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. but of late the subject had been discussed more and more. the animals were still unfed. to the number of thirty-five. but she could not look Clover in the face. We have removed the sheets from the farmhouse beds. who looked like a publican. Willingdon. and how many of those eggs ever hatched into chickens? The rest have all gone to market to bring in money for Jones and his men. Pilkington. comrades. thinking to set back our plans and avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion. The dogs had suddenly caught sight of them. there was as yet no contact between Animal Farm and the outside world. for the warmest place.They had just finished singing it for the third time when Squealer. Indeed. or sleep in a bed. and announced that the mill would be named Napoleon Mill. The sight of their dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears. argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production. which had been disused in Jones's time. At this moment the man on the box whipped up his horses and the van moved out of the yard at a smart trot." said Snowball. He said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it. the dogs whined it.

 and as for the clever ones. who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. A deputation of neighbouring farmers had been invited to make a tour of inspection. An impromptu celebration of the victory was held immediately. surely they knew their beloved Leader. producing thirty-one young pigs between them. the buildings wanted roofing. Even when it was resolved-a thing no one could object to in itself-to set aside the small paddock behind the orchard as a home of rest for animals who were past work. Napoleon. They. The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington." repeated Boxer. In desperation the animals began appealing to the two horses which drew the van to stop. At last they could stand it no longer. kicked off his boots at the back door. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. it must be right. but the windmill compensated for everything. some of the animals might possibly have protested. They all cowered silently in their places. just at the moment when Jones and his men had got inside the yard. and his eyes were full of tears. The other animals understood how to vote. but with a reputation for getting his own way. listening to him. He believed that he was right in saying that the lower animals on Animal Farm did more work and received less food than any animals in the county. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism on the company. It was given out that the pasture was exhausted and needed re-seeding; but it soon became known that Napoleon intended to sow it with barley. our dung fertilises it.

 he does not lay eggs. Forward. Willingdon. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms. that they worked shorter hours.It had come to his knowledge. not working. in the vegetable garden. he said. 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. some days afterwards. tell them the story of the Rebellion. Napoleon was a large. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. On the same day it was given out that fresh documents had been discovered which revealed further details about Snowball's complicity with Jones. Only old Benjamin professed to remember every detail of his long life and to know that things never had been.4. the cows. and announced that the mill would be named Napoleon Mill. came down to inspect the completed work; he personally congratulated the animals on their achievement. the crowing of the cockerel. with half a gallon for Napoleon himself. "Quick. and an electric heater. and all the animals. were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. but they did not at first give him much help. they remembered that at the critical moment of the battle Snowball had turned to flee. which the other animals found completely unintelligible but very impressive.

 who had unaccountably been absent during the fighting. majestically upright. where are those four foals you bore. Even Napoleon. First Class. "That will be attended to.Napoleon decreed that there should be a full investigation into Snowball's activities. The boy did not stir.On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion. that the pigs. none of which could be produced on the farm. There had been a time-not that he. "should be considered as clothes. What then must we do? Why. where the Seven Commandments were written. the plan could go forward without his interference. comrades. he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. It was mixed every day into the pigs' mash. I had known that tune in my infancy. came skipping towards them. They all declared contemptuously that his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain were lies. For some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts. perfect comradeship in the struggle. Jones was breeding up for sale. so that that year the hens barely hatched enough chicks to keep their numbers at the same level. except the cat.

 they were burnt in the furnace. seemed quite unchanged since the Rebellion. so it was said-at Foxwood. Did we not see for ourselves how he attempted-fortunately without success-to get us defeated and destroyed at the Battle of the Cowshed?"The animals were stupefied. his face deadly pale. H. the sheep broke into "Four legs good. and had taken to drinking more than was good for him. but was not considered to have the same depth of character. the halters. two legs better!"It went on for five minutes without stopping. And by the time the sheep had quieted down. But no warm mash appeared. Every Sunday morning at ten o'clock the animals assembled in the big barn to receive their orders for the week. They tiptoed up to the house. it was true. It would be the first time that he had had leisure to study and improve his mind. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. FOUR LEGS GOOD. and Pincher." cried Snowball. There was no wastage whatever; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes had gathered up the very last stalk."And he moved off at his lumbering trot and made for the quarry. for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse. and their appetites were always good. In the autumn the four sows had all littered about simultaneously.At the gate they paused.' Those were his very last words. as it turned out.