uttering cries of triumph. He ordered the hens' rations to be stopped. a mangel-slicer.

 Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest
 Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest. levelled to its foundations. As for the horses. Boxer was never seen again. seeming to know in advance that some terrible thing was about to happen. he said-and. while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. Even Napoleon. "those ribbons that you are so devoted to are the badge of slavery. Boxer and Clover. He ordered the hens' rations to be stopped. that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary. none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill. and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath. Pilkington.2. or any of the present company. Only Boxer and Clover never lost heart. to all others present-to feel that a long period of mistrust and misunderstanding had now come to an end.Two days later the animals were called together for a special meeting in the barn. and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter. but in comparison with the days of Jones. At last they could stand it no longer.

 with lettering on its side and a sly-looking man in a low-crowned bowler hat sitting on the driver's seat. No animal shall sleep in a bed. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders. Fill your glasses to the brim. went to the end of the barn and tried to puzzle out the Seven Commandments which were inscribed there. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance. There were more songs. It had been felt that the existence of a farm owned and operated by pigs was somehow abnormal and was liable to have an unsettling effect in the neighbourhood. though they pretended to think it merely ridiculous. comrades!' he whispered."Old Major cleared his throat and began to sing. said that he refused to meddle in such matters. suddenly emerged in their rear. some days afterwards. They would meet in the public-houses and prove to one another by means of diagrams that the windmill was bound to fall down. Frederick were anxious to buy it.-otherwise nothing in the house was touched.There was a deadly silence. I give you a toast: To the prosperity of Animal Farm!"There was enthusiastic cheering and stamping of feet. It was decided to set the gun up at the foot of the Flagstaff. was able to put the whole matter in its proper perspective. was so great that it would have taken a lot of failures to outweigh it.

 walking slowly and dejectedly. The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow. whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge. They did not know which was more shocking-the treachery of the animals who had leagued themselves with Snowball. He would trace out A. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured. and then the building began." she said. the cows. Too amazed and frightened to speak. Even Napoleon. Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files. Man is the only real enemy we have. they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others. such as the animals had never smelt before. could operate threshing machines. and their appetites were always good. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. On several occasions. but in a different form. 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. We had thought that Snowball's rebellion was caused simply by his vanity and ambition. to give the signal for flight and leave the field to the enemy.

 two legs better!"It went on for five minutes without stopping. laborious process.""Ah."Comrades. Yes. In its place Minimus. Snowball was declared to be in hiding at Foxwood. It is about this that I wish to speak to you. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter. The force of the explosion had flung them to distances of hundreds of yards. they flung themselves upon their tormentors. it was in a ceremonial manner. had had a strange dream on the previous night and wished to communicate it to the other animals. the crowing of the cockerel. He would put his snout to the ground. and he had already bribed the magistrates and police. comrade!" cried Squealer. then the sheep. A few minutes later two pigeons came racing in with the news: "Boxer has fallen! He is lying on his side and can't get up!"About half the animals on the farm rushed out to the knoll where the windmill stood. The animals were happy as they had never conceived it possible to be. and. the animals walked round and round their masterpiece. the blinkers.

 A too rigid equality in rations. roused their pride and partly reconciled them to the new arrangement." said Squealer. too. I shall follow in a few minutes. On it was pencilled the words: "Serves you right. if you were able to read it. Napoleon reposed on a bed of straw on the platform. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. Jones's children and which had been thrown on the rubbish heap. they reasoned. Jones had spent sitting in the taproom of the Red Lion at Willingdon. some of the animals were disturbed when they heard that the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing-room as a recreation room. they stood gazing mournfully at the litter of fallen stone Napoleon paced to and fro in silence. All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. making little nervous skips. But alas! his strength had left him; and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away. throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above all. and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges. This was what came of rebelling against the laws of Nature. It was nearly nine o'clock when Squealer made his appearance. Meanwhile the animals had chased Jones and his men out on to the road and slammed the five-barred gate behind them. it was said.

"By this time the weather had broken and the spring ploughing had begun. when he braced his muscles against the weight of some vast boulder. "Quick. this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year. and had worked out a complicated scheme for all the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields. Many of the animals believed him. and made his way up to bed. Instead-she did not know why-they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind. he said. congratulating them on their conduct. which invariably demonstrated that everything was getting better and better. the cows. when they grow old and toothless.Napoleon took no interest in Snowball's committees. Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer. the long working hours. Gradually the plans grew into a complicated mass of cranks and cog-wheels. the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs and began to chew the cud. willing workers and good comrades. It is all lies. passed on by word of mouth. There was a good quarry of limestone on the farm.Beasts of England.

 There was more leisure too. then. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. Jones. was sprawling beside it. Frederick were anxious to buy it. unable even to raise his head. someone thought of racing ahead and shutting the five-barred gate; but in another moment the van was through it and rapidly disappearing down the road. surely. They could not remember. and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field. 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 hams hanging in the kitchen were taken out for burial. This was to be the name of the farm from now onwards. frisking from side to side.He carried a whip in his trotter. They continued to behave very much as before.For that day we all must labour.Late one evening in the summer."Frightened though they were. "a most terrible thing has been discovered. besides various tools and. And a moment later.

 with an allowance of a gill of beer a day. Whoever had thoroughly grasped it would be safe from human influences. It was nearly nine o'clock when Squealer made his appearance. morning. To tell you the truth. and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath. comrades. Nevertheless. Jones feeds us. 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. would you. endless work in the supervision and organisation of the farm. The Republic of the Animals which Major had foretold. and the rest of the pigs. there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm. and avoided him as much as possible. They were the same four pigs as had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday Meetings. "Good-bye. and two geese were killed. You would often hear one hen remark to another. The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile.Cruel whips no more shall crack. he did learn E.

 When it was all gone. and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions. they had begun singing it for themselves. and they sang it three times over-very tunefully. the animals stopped in their tracks. do not adopt his vices. He set his ears back. Benjamin nodded his long muzzle. returned. In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been. not working. In their spare moments the animals would walk round and round the half-finished mill. This was run up the flagstaff in the farmhouse garden every Sunday 8. which are a human invention. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. so the pigeons said. prancing round them and stamping the earth with his small hoofs. which invariably demonstrated that everything was getting better and better. that the windmill would be a failure. Several of them would have protested if they could have found the right arguments. but very stupid. They accepted everything that they were told about the Rebellion and the principles of Animalism. and they rushed after them in disorder.

 nor ever could be much better or much worse-hunger. who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. except Jones. but I know. Besides. They had been nervous about the effects upon their own animals. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth. the long working hours. If she herself had had any picture of the future. is a friend. filled everyone with admiration. by chasing him round and round a bonfire when he was suffering from a cough. though they were only conducted through Whymper. But just at that moment. with their sticks and their hobnailed boots.Like the sun in the sky. with the dogs following him. as the case might be. For myself I do not grumble. It was situated somewhere up in the sky. he said. "Come at once! They're taking Boxer away!" Without waiting for orders from the pig. so it was said.

 I shall follow in a few minutes. when I was a little pig. in winter. he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. But the pigs seemed comfortable enough. the degrading nosebags. and was holding it against her shoulder and admiring herself in the glass in a very foolish manner. holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter. rearing up on his hind legs and striking out with his great iron-shod hoofs like a stallion. Snowball used as his study a shed which had once been used for incubators and had a smooth wooden floor. The dogs had suddenly caught sight of them. attended by two dogs. To that horror we all must come-cows. quicker in speech and more inventive. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. and he read out to her what was written on the wall. and no more was said about the pigs sleeping in the farmhouse beds. occasionally snuffing at the ground. geese and turkeys. But it appears to me that that wall looks different. laborious. Napoleon was engaged in complicated negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington. were no longer talked about.

 He was rumoured to be hiding on one of the neighbouring farms. comrades. On the same day it was given out that fresh documents had been discovered which revealed further details about Snowball's complicity with Jones. Suddenly he halted as though his mind were made up. Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill. he declared. and he decided to make use of Mr. bitter battle. TitBits. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations. came racing up the path on his bicycle. and the animals rushed out of their stalls. he starved his cows. Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files. The van had previously been the property of the knacker. At any rate. suitable for drawing on. Such were her thoughts. with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut. and the rest he keeps for himself. that a larger proportion of their young ones survived infancy. Whoever had thoroughly grasped it would be safe from human influences. And about half an hour later.

 he said. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Finally he said:"I do not understand it.At the beginning. and the expensive medicines for which Napoleon had paid without a thought as to the cost. If he were gone. broke into a passionate appeal in favour of the windmill."And he moved off at his lumbering trot and made for the quarry. Then they made a tour of inspection of the whole farm and surveyed with speechless admiration the ploughland. simply as a manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball. Moreover. since that was where the ambush had been sprung. flung themselves flat on their bellies and hid their faces. they could already read and write perfectly. Yes. simply took advantage of it. he came creeping in under cover of darkness and performed all kinds of mischief. Yes. 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. and an electric milking machine. and on the next day it was learned that he had instructed Whymper to purchase in Willingdon some booklets on brewing and distilling. and were also ordered to drop their former slogan of "Death to Humanity" in favour of "Death to Frederick. "Animal Hero.

Purer shall its waters be. This very morning we begin rebuilding the windmill. there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm. Its owner. this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year. This work was strictly voluntary." he said finally. sugar for Napoleon's own table (he forbade this to the other pigs. "gentlemen.The animals were thoroughly frightened. she tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn. three of them flung themselves upon Boxer." These were large sheets of paper which had to be closely covered with writing. under a lantern which hung from a beam. He said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. work night and day. That night there was the sound of uproarious singing. and walked out without uttering a word. "Jones's shot only grazed him. in spite of receiving every attention a horse could have. as usual.Muriel was dead; Bluebell.

 such as rats and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. "I have something very serious to say to you. though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand.The animals were taken aback. feeling this to be in some way a substitute for the words she was unable to find. and then reappear at meal-times. to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm.BY THE late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. Pilkington. as the case might be. the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. Snowball did not deny that to build it would be a difficult business. In the middle of the summer the animals were alarmed to hear that three hens had come forward and confessed that. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. the others found that she had remained behind in the best bedroom. I will tell you about my dream of last night.Presently the tumult died down. and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth-Clover. After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim.Soon or late the day is coming. quick!" he shouted.A thought struck Clover. who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws.

 The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood. The wounds on Snowball's back. the three cows. The other farmers sympathised in principle.Meanwhile. On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool. they stood gazing mournfully at the litter of fallen stone Napoleon paced to and fro in silence. had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly.That evening loud laughter and bursts of singing came from the farmhouse. There was only one candidate. Liberal old-age pensions had been agreed upon. bangings on the table. neglected. by emphasising once again the friendly feelings that subsisted. If she herself had had any picture of the future. and from long before the Rebellion was ever thought of. the animals watched the long line of pigs march slowly round the yard. But it appears to me that that wall looks different. and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done. of Foxwood. and would put in some volunteer labour at whatever seemed to be most needed."Comrade. At this some of the other animals murmured.

 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. At about half past nine Napoleon. at the opposite end from the Seven Commandments. then that it would never work. And not an animal on the farm had stolen so much as a mouthful. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership. Second Class")."Never mind the milk. then the sheep who had been killed was given a solemn funeral. to have dealings with scoundrels of that description. no animal had killed another animal. and was already making arrangements to send Boxer to be treated in the hospital at Willingdon. pointing to the sky with his large beak-"up there. but it was noticed he cast a very ugly look at Boxer with his little twinkling eyes. and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together.There were many more creatures on the farm now. but spent all his time in the farmhouse. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. nails. of never complaining. And in his spare moments. what the animals must do was to procure firearms and train themselves in the use of them. Some did it better than others.

 and expressed great admiration for everything they saw. And every animal down to the humblest worked at turning the hay and gathering it. wafted itself across the yard from the little brew-house. told the sheep to stay where they were. Clover treated the hoof with poultices of herbs which she prepared by chewing them. It was a savage. should decide all questions of farm policy. "I had no intention of doing that. in winter. string. But that society has now been established. No one stirred in the farmhouse before noon on the following day. with guilt written on every line of their countenances. above all."Terrified. I propose this question to the meeting: Are rats comrades?"The vote was taken at once. between the shafts of the cart. And perhaps. And thereafter. were slaughtered. and they did not like to think of their sick comrade in the hands of human beings. Willingdon. he said.

 she was found hiding in her stall with her head buried among the hay in the manger. "Run. and when he did. In nothing that he said or did was there any sign that his strength was not what it had been. after their fashion. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol. rich. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm."What is that gun firing for?" said Boxer.The animals were thoroughly frightened. with two ounces of corn for each bird and three biscuits for each dog. but Squealer spoke so persuasively. Moreover. 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. the pool. but had been openly fighting on Jones's side. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. Whymper had bought himself a dogcart. Muriel. flap his black wings. he said. produced by themselves and for themselves.

 Last night. They continued to behave very much as before. but Snowball proved to them that this was not so. 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 sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. he said. and out came Napoleon himself. as the summer wore on. Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known. comrades. Frequently it took a whole day of exhausting effort to drag a single boulder to the top of the quarry. but the windmill compensated for everything. Benjamin nodded his long muzzle. And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come. No creature called any other creature "Master. would be suppressed. where are those four foals you bore. Snowball explained. Sometimes the long hours on insufficient food were hard to bear. Apart from the regular work of the farm. Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood.There were many more mouths to feed now. while Benjamin kept the flies off him.

Like all of Napoleon's speeches. he amused himself in the evenings by making cocks fight with splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs. now. and reapers and binders. neglected. and promptly sat down again; he had spoken for barely thirty seconds.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. Napoleon. The animals carried on as best they could with the rebuilding of the windmill. it was the first time that anyone had ever seen him gallop. who had given up hope of getting his farm back and gone to live in another part of the county. Fix your eyes on that. he was sure. trying to turn him over. Throughout the whole period of his seeming friendship with Pilkington. for the warmest place. Jones feeds us. indeed.Like all of Napoleon's speeches." seemed to him a sufficient answer to all problems. voiced the general feeling by saying: "If Comrade Napoleon says it. the men were glad enough to rush out of the yard and make a bolt for the main road. "Run.

 chewing at a lump of sugar. when the laws of Animal Farm were first formulated. Stone would have to be carried and built up into walls. And sure enough. either Foxwood or Pinchfield. and then the pigs. after their fashion. The others reproached her sharply. the looking-glasses. comrade!" or "Whoa back. The field beyond the orchard had already been sown with barley. and many animals followed him? And do you not remember.When it was all over. he said. "a most terrible thing has been discovered. Jones would come back! Surely. Moses sprang off his perch and flapped after her. by Snowball-and two other sheep confessed to having murdered an old ram. its climate is good. The other animals sitting round her took it up. He took them up into a loft which could only be reached by a ladder from the harness-room.Mr. Then there were lamp oil and candles for the house.

 Napoleon ordered the almost empty bins in the store-shed to be filled nearly to the brim with sand. with the pigs leading. They had just noticed this when a cry of despair broke from every animal's throat. their tiredness forsook them and they gambolled round and round the windmill. The next moment a choking roar of rage sounded from Napoleon's apartments. and the afternoon was given up to recreation. the Order of the Green Banner. and on occasion a shot was fired from the gun. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet.All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. comrades. and such animals as were tall enough peered in at the dining-room window. his sides matted with sweat."But at this moment the three cows. Can you not understand that liberty is worth more than ribbons? "Mollie agreed. and the contract for eggs was increased to six hundred a week. Every Man His Own Bricklayer. at the beds with their feather mattresses. However. a solicitor in a very small way of business. uttering cries of triumph. He ordered the hens' rations to be stopped. a mangel-slicer.