"Comrade Napoleon is always right"-maxims. and disappear indoors again.

 The animals watched them
 The animals watched them. or even upon their human employees. had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff. They. and all the animals broke into a gallop and rushed into the yard.At last. the sheep bleated it. was a spy and a tale-bearer. but he sang well enough. since it seemed to them that they also had two legs. at a different spot every day. hunters refused their fences and shot their riders on to the other side. There were the bricks.) But he maintained that it could all be done in a year. comrade!" cried Squealer. It was as though they had never seen these things before. and when the key of the store-shed was lost. the sheep were sure to silence him with a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time. but she did not sound very convinced. so the pigeons said. Jones's especial pet. But Napoleon was too clever for him. They worked diligently hardly raising their faces from the ground. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. But Boxer was still a little uneasy. nimble movements. The dogs learned to read fairly well.The farm was more prosperous now.

 And yet. and from man to pig. and an overturned pot of white paint. and lime for the schoolroom to be purchased. and various new buildings had been added to it. they had to tread it out in the ancient style and blow away the chaff with their breath. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. shrewd man. almost too weak to speak. whom they referred to as "Master. He too. and out came Napoleon himself. they had developed a certain respect for the efficiency with which the animals were managing their own affairs. throwing down the paint-brush. tell them the story of the Rebellion. Their bodies were buried in the orchard. And yet. while Benjamin kept the flies off him. and once on Midsummer Day.Suddenly. never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either. and all the sheep. it was short and to the point. Whymper heard nothing of this affair. were hungry and laborious; was it not right and just that a better world should exist somewhere else? A thing that was difficult to determine was the attitude of the pigs towards Moses. "A horse's lungs do not last for ever. drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own. crept away in a body.

 then the sheep who had been killed was given a solemn funeral. these projects were a failure. They were still the only farm in the whole county-in all England!-owned and operated by animals. squealing with pain and terror. He would perch on a stump. contained the essential principle of Animalism. 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. But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. Sure enough. Led by three young Black Minorca pullets.2. Moses. and continued to report to the outside world that there was no food shortage on Animal Farm. as though at a signal. and. Nobody shirked-or almost nobody. and ought to subsist. All the pigeons. We had thought that Snowball's rebellion was caused simply by his vanity and ambition. and various others. "Are you certain that this is not something that you have dreamed. they studied blacksmithing. they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. Not even a rat had been killed. They could only be traced for a few yards.There was a deadly silence. It was as though the world had turned upside-down." he said. TitBits.

 Then a goose came forward and confessed to having secreted six ears of corn during the last year's harvest and eaten them in the night. They were executed immediately. were no longer talked about. so the pigeons said. mistaken ideas had been current. and seemed almost indifferent as to the effect he produced. the sheep. but Squealer spoke so persuasively. who were manifestly cleverer than the other animals. it was true. In the end. but he would not offer a reasonable price. two legs better!"It went on for five minutes without stopping. in a way they had never sung it before. as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet. But the problem the animals could not at first solve was how to break up the stone into pieces of suitable size. squealing with pain and terror. There was also "Animal Hero. the uproar awoke Mr. while Benjamin turned around and lashed at them with his small hoofs. Besides. they kicked up clods of the black earth and snuffed its rich scent. whatever the appearances might be. quick!" he shouted. which are the mark of a human being. Napoleon had commanded that once a week there should be held something called a Spontaneous Demonstration. when the animals got to close quarters. She took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets.

 They worked diligently hardly raising their faces from the ground. Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse. Smiling beatifically. the sheep broke into "Four legs good."Boxer!" cried Clover in a terrible voice. But all such doubts were now dispelled. by emphasising once again the friendly feelings that subsisted.Bright will shine the fields of England. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that. The other farm. speaking very slowly and firmly. Rumours of a wonderful farm. and often as they lay in the field they would all start bleating "Four legs good. it got into the din of the smithies and the tune of the church bells.And the fruitful fields of EnglandShall be trod by beasts alone. and near at hand there lay a lantern. Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer. Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones's legs. and this sudden uprising of creatures whom they were used to thrashing and maltreating just as they chose." And from then on he adopted the maxim. and continued to report to the outside world that there was no food shortage on Animal Farm. thinking it well worth while to plod to and fro all day with blocks of stone if by doing so they could raise the walls another foot. Napoleon. Yet he is lord of all the animals. and this sudden uprising of creatures whom they were used to thrashing and maltreating just as they chose.None of the other animals on the farm could get further than the letter A. it was named the Battle of the Cowshed. As his last act upon earth. giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies.

 the Whiter Wool Movement for the sheep. and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill. And-I was a long way away. they had begun singing it for themselves. something between Clementine and La Cucaracha. In his speeches. They explained that by their studies of the past three months the pigs had succeeded in reducing the principles of Animalism to Seven Commandments. I shall follow in a few minutes. All the animals capered with joy when they saw the whips going up in flames. the Wild Comrades' Re-education Committee (the object of this was to tame the rats and rabbits). the expulsion of Jones.And the fruitful fields of EnglandShall be trod by beasts alone. and sleep between blankets. But the superior quality of Napoleon's mind. 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. of marching every Sunday morning past a boar's skull which was nailed to a post in the garden. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. All the pigeons. You do not appreciate. For a horse. but very stupid. the animals broke off work and raced back to the farm buildings. Word had gone round during the day that old Major. until today. Straw was laid down outside the doors of the farmhouse. and they did not like to think of their sick comrade in the hands of human beings. remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. now that it was truly their own food. JONES.

 and purred so affectionately. between Animal Farm and its neighbours. four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message. the tame raven.And the fruitful fields of EnglandShall be trod by beasts alone. After the horses came Muriel. Who will believe that I did not do this on purpose?""No sentimentality. down to the last detail. Panic overtook them." seemed to him a sufficient answer to all problems. At a moment when the opening was clear. contained the essential principle of Animalism. "is an organ of propulsion and not of manipulation."' she announced finally. Snowball. The early apples were now ripening. comrades. Some did it better than others. Mr. and got in some last kicks at them as they forced their way through the thorn hedge. He had. and leather leggings. They had not been milked for twenty-four hours. "War is war. The truest happiness. everyone. He was indefatigable at this. he said. how many eggs have you laid in this last year.

 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. After the harvest there was a stretch of clear dry weather. or sleep in a bed. but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. This very morning we begin rebuilding the windmill. But no warm mash appeared. the other animal must stand aside: and also that all pigs. At a moment when the opening was clear. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. So far from being decorated. to make of Mr. and they rushed after them in disorder. Benjamin. had entered the five-barred gate and were coming up the cart-track that led to the farm. who stood on two legs." which was conferred posthumously on the dead sheep.A thought struck Clover. It now appeared that Snowball was not. After surveying the ground. a paint-brush. Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon. urinated over the plans. and in August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well. and receive their orders for the week; but there would be no more debates. In the evening Squealer called them together. and the windmill neared completion. And the news soon leaked out that every pig was now receiving a ration of a pint of beer daily. Yes. But she always made such excellent excuses.

 here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball. to the number of thirty-five. When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill. had been a capable farmer. Each had his own following. argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. F. Some of the animals talked of the duty of loyalty to Mr. When he did emerge. as usual. he trampled the seedbeds. the geese. although a hard master. was to be ploughed up. The windmill was. with both simultaneously. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. Clover dropped to her knees at his side. two legs bad" at crucial moments in Snowball's speeches. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. which he had conferred upon himself. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. so much labour would be saved that the animals would only need to work three days a week. Mollie?""He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie. menacing growls. Nobody stole. 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. had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world.

 It is called Beasts of England. He was deceived."The pigs now revealed that during the past three months they had taught themselves to read and write from an old spelling book which had belonged to Mr. they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms. all the animals turned and fled through the gateway into the yard. properly regarded. He had made arrangements with the cockerel to call him three-quarters of an hour earlier in the mornings instead of half an hour. The time had been when a few kicks from Boxer's hoofs would have smashed the van to matchwood. in the barn. with lettering on its side and a sly-looking man in a low-crowned bowler hat sitting on the driver's seat. And the animals heard. 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. After the horses came Muriel. For some time nobody spoke. TWO LEGS BAD. it was not for this that she and all the other animals had hoped and toiled. No one stirred in the farmhouse before noon on the following day. and tell Squealer what has happened. Every mouthful of food was an acute positive pleasure. 'Forward. This morning I saw you looking over the hedge that divides Animal Farm from Foxwood. every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year. and the fluttering of the flag. If they had no more food than they had had in Jones's day. half frightened to go on but Clover led the way in. They were shaken and miserable. endless work in the supervision and organisation of the farm. he does not lay eggs.

 and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth-Clover.The windmill presented unexpected difficulties. A large jug was circulating. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm. and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder. he added. was expected to take two years. All animals should go naked. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest. and two geese were killed. to be worn on Sundays and holidays. In addition.As for the others. a number of dogcarts drove up to the farm. 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. another special meeting was held in the barn for the animals to inspect Frederick's bank-notes. They saw.They limped into the yard.The three hens who had been the ringleaders in the attempted rebellion over the eggs now came forward and stated that Snowball had appeared to them in a dream and incited them to disobey Napoleon's orders. the Brussels carpet. clover was in season all the year round. my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words. Kennels Supplied. not working. a hawthorn bush being planted on her grave. except Clover. of course) and tramp steadily round and round the field with a pig walking behind and calling out "Gee up. was shown in the fact that he trusted nobody."Mollie! Look me in the face.

 Even so. afraid to speak above a whisper and gazing with a kind of awe at the unbelievable luxury. finally. I shall follow in a few minutes. Jones. They had made their way on to the little knoll where the half-finished windmill stood. now clean of flesh. Only old Benjamin refused to grow enthusiastic about the windmill. There had also been a very strange custom. Nobody shirked-or almost nobody. Moses sprang off his perch and flapped after her. and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. everyone.But they had not gone twenty yards when they stopped short. should have a quiet place to work in. two legs bad!" But by and large the animals enjoyed these celebrations. Was not the labour problem the same everywhere? Here it became apparent that Mr. dog biscuits. and all four of them sprang to their feet and began speaking at once. of primitive implements. The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington. Comrade Napoleon. he does not lay eggs. I have laid five eggs in six days"; or two cows. And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the windmill had once stood. which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings.

 the fields were full of weeds.YEARS passed."Boxer!" she cried. a paint-brush. with various other improvements."Old Major cleared his throat and began to sing. It is summed up in a single word-Man. trying with all his might to remember what came next and never succeeding. furious denials. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. But still. How these were to be procured. comrades. Led by three young Black Minorca pullets. Alone among the animals on the farm he never laughed. though they pretended to think it merely ridiculous. "Animal Hero. when the animals got to close quarters. he had reason to think. They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes. The other farmers sympathised in principle. Today he and his friends had visited Animal Farm and inspected every inch of it with their own eyes. and a dozen pellets had lodged themselves in his hind leg. The other farmers sympathised in principle. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go. which had been troublesome that winter.There were many more mouths to feed now.Then they filed back to the farm buildings and halted in silence outside the door of the farmhouse."Old Major cleared his throat and began to sing.

 except by the few who had known him. Willingdon. "read me the Fourth Commandment. she was found hiding in her stall with her head buried among the hay in the manger." All animals were equal. and then where should we be? Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball. Snowball was known to be still skulking on Pinchfield Farm. He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey. and to fire it twice a year-once on October the twelfth. They were shown all over the farm. with two dogs to wait upon him. no one was able to imagine. simply took advantage of it. But somehow neither the words nor the tune ever seemed to the animals to come up to Beasts of England. too. for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse. "Loyalty and obedience are more important. that any animal could be so stupid. Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. And what is more. The animals listened first to Napoleon. the dog-chains. was smaller and better kept. it would have to be made up by the sale of eggs. Of the two. And-I was a long way away. although her appetite was excellent. he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving.

 and all the animals broke into a gallop and rushed into the yard. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:" 'Alfred Simmonds. We pigs are brainworkers. the remaining animals. But there were also rumours of something more serious. Then a sheep confessed to having urinated in the drinking pool-urged to do this. though they were only conducted through Whymper. that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary.Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week. Boxer was the admiration of everybody. Unable at first to speak." said Snowball. it might not be with in the lifetime of any animal now living. to save the labour of cartage. now that for the first time animals and human beings were meeting on terms of equality? With one accord they began to creep as quietly as possible into the farmhouse garden. Jones. had been a capable farmer. Boxer's twelfth birthday was due in the late summer of the following year. it would have to be made up by the sale of eggs. Straw was laid down outside the doors of the farmhouse. and after the sale of part of the hay and corn. He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else. with which the meetings always ended. it was a fact that every animal on the farm knew it. They were still the only farm in the whole county-in all England!-owned and operated by animals. but with perfect balance. In addition. Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files. and a number of the pigs.

 If Pilkington and his men would help them. Bluebell. Their method was to fly up to the rafters and there lay their eggs. even in defence of their own interests. "If Comrade Napoleon says it. rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar. every inch of it their own property-appeared to the animals so desirable a place. For the time being. where are those four foals you bore. though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand. but for a moment he was too overcome by amusement to be able to utter it. but never exercised his faculty. Napoleon reposed on a bed of straw on the platform. And finally there was a tremendous baying of dogs and a shrill crowing from the black cockerel. It was possible to foresee that the coming winter would be a hard one. "If Comrade Napoleon says it. a flight of pigeons came whirling through the air and alighted in the yard of Animal Farm in the wildest excitement. Old Major (so he was always called. you do not want Jones back?"Once again this argument was unanswerable. the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory.In April. now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. After only a moment or two they gave up trying to defend themselves and took to their heels. making little nervous skips.The animals were taken aback.At one end of the big barn. on all fours. and short.

 down to the last detail. said that he refused to meddle in such matters. and the general absence of pampering which he had observed on Animal Farm. but they were weary and bleeding. tucked his fore hoofs beneath him. they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others. Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. No animal must ever live in a house. they hurled themselves into the air in great leaps of excitement. comrades? Have you any record of such a resolution? Is it written down anywhere?" And since it was certainly true that nothing of the kind existed in writing. In a moment. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs. Benjamin?"For once Benjamin consented to break his rule. so it was said-at Foxwood. and teach them the tune of Beasts of England. They had been warned earlier that this sacrifice might be necessary. there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm. It was pure imagination. out from the door of the farmhouse came a long file of pigs. or wear clothes. and our enemies would be upon us. "Come at once! They're taking Boxer away!" Without waiting for orders from the pig. The animals listened first to Napoleon. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. He announced that. shook his forelock several times. Whymper. His twelfth birthday was approaching. In the teeth of every difficulty.

" said Boxer in a weak voice.They had won. surely they knew their beloved Leader. the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs and began to chew the cud. The animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally; one day. For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tatted wall with its white lettering. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. "A horse's lungs do not last for ever. comrades. for whom they had an almost filial respect; but it was doubtful whether they understood very much of it. Transporting the stone when it was once broken was comparatively simple. none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill. Once again Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of his health. reduced in December. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously. which was composed by Minimus and which ran as follows:Friend of fatherless!Fountain of happiness!Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh. One of them. the cows.That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. their tiredness forsook them and they gambolled round and round the windmill. besides various tools and. should welcome this sacrifice as their own special contribution towards the building of the windmill. Napoleon reposed on a bed of straw on the platform.They had just finished singing it for the third time when Squealer. with the white stripe down his nose. and they protested that to take the eggs away now was murder.

 It was possible to foresee that the coming winter would be a hard one. besides various tools and. especially from Clover. Once again all rations were reduced.Clover. and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. but Squealer asked them shrewdly. that they had collaborated with him in destroying the windmill. In the end they finished the harvest in two days' less time than it had usually taken Jones and his men. F. The pile of timber was still unsold. a sign in him of intense mental activity. The animals distrusted Pilkington. comrades. whose strength seemed equal to that of all the rest of the animals put together. Unable at first to speak. they drank from the pool. Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. With tears in their eyes they asked one another what they should do if their Leader were taken away from them. such as the sheep. half frightened to go on but Clover led the way in. before the regular day's work began. who had been hiding behind the hedge. Second Class. cows. and which stood beyond the kitchen. and of the habit. and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter. The shed where Snowball had drawn his plans of the windmill had been shut up and it was assumed that the plans had been rubbed off the floor.

 Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms.At one end of the big barn. The needs of the windmill must override everything else. For the time being. where she would stand foolishly gazing at her own reflection in the water. and his great sides matted with sweat. and let fly a charge of number 6 shot into the darkness. had stood up. they all raced out into the pasture together." he said quietly. Benjamin nodded his long muzzle.But if there were hardships to be borne. and seemed to be biding his time. he said finally. making little nervous skips. The earth was like iron. there was nothing worth reading. Too many farmers had assumed. that sooner or later justice will be done. And again. was no better than a criminal?""He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed. The attempt to tame the wild creatures. which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. of never complaining. the sheep bleated it. And a moment later. They had just noticed this when a cry of despair broke from every animal's throat. Yes. nobody grumbled over his rations.

 No animal must ever live in a house. and. The other animals understood how to vote. first Class. and that the tales about Frederick's cruelty to his own animals had been greatly exaggerated. His eyes were glazed. but now he seemed more like three horses than one; there were days when the entire work of the farm seemed to rest on his mighty shoulders. now that for the first time animals and human beings were meeting on terms of equality? With one accord they began to creep as quietly as possible into the farmhouse garden. Forward. Yet he is lord of all the animals. then the sails would have to be made and after that there would be need for dynamos and cables. In his speeches. comrades."Mollie. All the pigeons. and to finish it by the appointed date. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. except the cat. a contract for four hundred eggs a week.Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. and she complained of mysterious pains. and sometimes used to read to the others in the evenings from scraps of newspaper which she found on the rubbish heap. Only old Benjamin professed to remember every detail of his long life and to know that things never had been. by emphasising once again the friendly feelings that subsisted. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. and the mugs were being refilled with beer. Jones ties a brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond. but he sang well enough. a contract for four hundred eggs a week.

 After the hoisting of the flag. Boxer!" they chorused. on the other hand. comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come.' immediately afterwards?""That was our mistake.Full belly twice a day."But at this moment the three cows. growling dogs roamed everywhere. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning. his face deadly pale. "Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed.""That was part of the arrangement!" cried Squealer. There were more songs. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. the cruel knives with which Mr. but Boxer would never listen to her. sing Beasts of England. three sheep. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. it was named the Battle of the Cowshed. Jones's children and which had been thrown on the rubbish heap. he said. it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land. since Boxer's death.Ere he had grown as bigEven as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin. its climate is good.Apart from the disputes over the windmill. including the windmill.

 two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over. The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow. the animals were still unfed. When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill. Yes. hot and cold water. and only a few were edible. Boxer was an enormous beast." concluded Napoleon. Frederick were anxious to buy it. They all remembered. and flung it on to the fire with the rest. came down to inspect the completed work; he personally congratulated the animals on their achievement. Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic.The two horses had just lain down when a brood of ducklings. he said. Napoleon snuffed deeply at them and pronounced them to be Snowball's. before the regular day's work began. And Boxer's stall was empty. They had had a hard year. and reapers and binders. tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes. that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in." "reports. ad exclaim in a terrible voice. laborious process. All the animals nodded in complete agreement." And from then on he adopted the maxim. and were discouraged from playing with the other young animals.

 how many thousands of gallons of milk have you given during this last year? And what has happened to that milk which should have been breeding up sturdy calves? Every drop of it has gone down the throats of our enemies. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout. but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain. that they accepted his explanation without further questions.Two days later the animals were called together for a special meeting in the barn. it was a fact that every animal on the farm knew it. give several deep sniffs. He paced up and down without a word. The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogan. when the terror caused by the executions had died down. They could not knock it down in a week. Clover was an old stout mare now. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning. At this Snowball sprang to his feet. But just at that moment. two legs bad" at crucial moments in Snowball's speeches. except the cat. it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this. as the case might be. The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood. He fidgeted to and fro. Pilkington. Then a goose came forward and confessed to having secreted six ears of corn during the last year's harvest and eaten them in the night. he was sure. had already recovered and made off. and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation. He intended to take the whole burden upon his own shoulders. They dashed straight for Snowball. However.

 early in the spring. Smiling beatifically. who had begun bleating again. and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-and heard the speech that Napoleon made. and various new buildings had been added to it. Comrade Napoleon was dying!A cry of lamentation went up. comrades. Second Class. Their relations with the human race were now not quite the same as they had been before. and the Daily Mirror.Now. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill. comrades! The hay is waiting. more processions. it was unnecessary to fence off pasture from arable land. whisking his tail and beaming with satisfaction. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. the drinking pool. Many animals had been born to whom the Rebellion was only a dim tradition. and a sheep dropped dead. There had also been a very strange custom. here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball. Liberal old-age pensions had been agreed upon. all the animals turned and fled through the gateway into the yard.) But he maintained that it could all be done in a year. stiff in the joints and with a tendency to rheumy eyes. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. when Boxer had somewhat recovered. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal.

 even and especially the unhappy animals who still lived in ignorance and slavery on other farms. The next moment a choking roar of rage sounded from Napoleon's apartments." or made elementary remarks such as "Mr. the fruit of all their struggles. and out came Napoleon himself. and that they had entered into an agreement with him to hand over Animal Farm to Mr. they flung themselves upon their tormentors. Jones too was dead-he had died in an inebriates' home in another part of the country. Since Jones had left the farm. and the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky. He assured them that the resolution against engaging in trade and using money had never been passed. attended by two or three dogs. which he had conferred upon himself. whisking his tail and skipping from side to side. you do not want Jones back?"Once again this argument was unanswerable. they drank from the pool. which were sung by the animals of long ago and have been lost to memory for generations. "surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?"Now if there was one thing that the animals were completely certain of. Forward.Bit and spur shall rust forever. with the pigs leading. Napoleon took them away from their mothers. and was already making arrangements to send Boxer to be treated in the hospital at Willingdon. There was. he said. Did we not give him 'Animal Hero. In Sugarcandy Mountain it was Sunday seven days a week. and sharply ordered Boxer to let the dog go. when bricks and timber had been purchased.

 The dogs had suddenly caught sight of them. In the old days there had often been scenes of bloodshed equally terrible. the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water. between Animal Farm and its neighbours. for sheep at seven. It happened that Jessie and Bluebell had both whelped soon after the hay harvest. whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge. hens. Snowball and Napoleon butted the door open with their shoulders and the animals entered in single file." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. Willingdon. Pilkington. it was he who had actually been the leader of the human forces. 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.It was vitally necessary to conceal this fact from the outside world. He was indefatigable at this. continued to circulate in vague and distorted forms. Boxer!" they chorused. there was more for everyone to eat. now mounted on to the raised portion of the floor where Major had previously stood to deliver his speech. They were shown all over the farm. and a special gift of an apple was bestowed on every animal. a number of dogcarts drove up to the farm. and if anyone complained (as a few animals sometimes did. Comrade Napoleon. But we were wrong. but was still short of money. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. and their appetites were always good.

 the pension would be five pounds of corn a day and. It must be due to some fault in ourselves. was a large. Benjamin and Clover could only be with Boxer after working hours." said Boxer. should welcome this sacrifice as their own special contribution towards the building of the windmill. but the windmill compensated for everything. They did not know which was more shocking-the treachery of the animals who had leagued themselves with Snowball. At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches. except for the pigs and dogs. But there were also rumours of something more serious. Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed. With one accord. 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. ad exclaim in a terrible voice. however. But she always made such excellent excuses. With tears in their eyes they asked one another what they should do if their Leader were taken away from them. which had been troublesome that winter. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge.They had won. Major's speech had given to the more intelligent animals on the farm a completely new outlook on life." said Boxer in a weak voice. The cows lowed it. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations. At heart. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. It was the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited-indeed.ne the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done.

 skipping from side to side and whisking his tail. and the next moment she took to her heels and galloped away into the field. Comrade Napoleon had pronounced a solemn decree: the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death."Impossible!" cried Napoleon. I do not think. The hens woke up squawking with terror because they had all dreamed simultaneously of hearing a gun go off in the distance. he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving. The early apples were now ripening. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. "I had no intention of doing that. he said. the strains of Beasts of England were mixed up. on a sort of raised platform. but every one of them made his way right round the yard successfully. was distinctly seen to emerge from the back door. At first it was a little difficult to see how this fitted in with his being on Jones's side. which. Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly. morning. pretty white mare who drew Mr. old-fashioned farm. which had become overgrown with birch saplings. the spinney. Once again some of the animals heard this with a certain bewilderment. lashing out in all directions. In Sugarcandy Mountain it was Sunday seven days a week. which smashed to pieces on the floor. "I will work harder" and "Comrade Napoleon is always right"-maxims. and disappear indoors again.