efficiency with which the animals were managing their own affairs. Amazed.

and when the key of the store-shed was lost
and when the key of the store-shed was lost.4. In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the banknotes was forgotten. But of all their controversies. set up a loud lowing. one at each corner. reading over the Seven Commandments to herself." he said. above all. to shatter to pieces below. but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence stiff further. The animals felt a little uneasy at this. though no one would have dared to sing it aloud. menacing growls. appetising scent. Discipline. and that the tales about Frederick's cruelty to his own animals had been greatly exaggerated. through Whymper. The situation was quite out of their control.

and a whole flock of geese and hens-everyone. at the opposite end from the Seven Commandments. in a way they had never sung it before. bruised and howling. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps. The animals distrusted Pilkington. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations. which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. and all the animals broke into a gallop and rushed into the yard. However. In Beasts of England we expressed our longing for a better society in days to come. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. which. filled everyone with admiration. except Clover. You cows that I see before me. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. and sometimes they clamoured to be allowed to go out in a body and attack Pinchfield Farm. Boxer passed it off as usual with "Napoleon is always right!".

comrades!"But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. they said. in the dust with his great hoof. A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. it was the biggest harvest that the farm had ever seen. The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington.They had won. as the animals had previously imagined.All must toil for freedom's sake. but spent all his time in the farmhouse. But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and. under a lantern which hung from a beam. the admirable care he had received. making sure that there was a fox in the yard. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. Animal Farm. his sides matted with sweat. Even the ducks and hens toiled to and fro all day in the sun. in spite of everything-in spite of their terror of the dogs.

Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims. One day. ad exclaim in a terrible voice. somebody. which was named Foxwood. two legs bad!" which went on for nearly a quarter of an hour and put an end to any chance of discussion. you do not need sugar. Even Boxer. Napoleon. In the end. They had been nervous about the effects upon their own animals. where are those four foals you bore. of whatever degree.Three days later Mollie disappeared. Nobody stole. Pilkington had each played an ace of spades simultaneously. Pilkington's excellent and neighbourly speech. Huge boulders. Benjamin.

"we have our lower classes!" This bon mot set the table in a roar; and Mr. "Boxer! Get out! Get out quickly! They're taking you to your death!"All the animals took up the cry of "Get out. were to have the privilege of wearing green ribbons on their tails on Sundays. evidently in order to drink a toast.THREE nights later old Major died peacefully in his sleep. When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone. every setback. he said. a grocer's van driving up to the farm once a week to take them away.Three days later there was a terrible hullabaloo. was smaller and better kept. Gentlemen. Old Benjamin. "We all saw him running with blood. And by the time the sheep had quieted down. congratulating them on their conduct. "should be considered as clothes. and he had already bribed the magistrates and police. as it turned out.

His two slogans. at the critical moment. and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter. or smoke tobacco. especially from Clover. comrades!" they shouted. in spite of everything-in spite of their terror of the dogs. willing workers and good comrades. but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence stiff further. Sometimes the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion." which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. oats and hay. shrewd man. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps. the crowing of the cockerel. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty.Unfortunately. Beasts of England had been abolished. now and in the past.

"do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!" he suddenly roared in a voice of thunder. he said. He was indefatigable at this. and from long before the Rebellion was ever thought of. whereat Boxer lifted his hoof. Pilkington's excellent and neighbourly speech. We pigs are brainworkers. but he was also a clever talker. When he did emerge. had locked the hen-houses for the night. a paint-brush. On several occasions. It ran:ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS After that it did not seem strange when next day the pigs who were supervising the work of the farm all carried whips in their trotters. She knew that. Yes. They were lust coming down the stairs when Mollie was discovered to be missing. There had been a time-not that he. chewing at a lump of sugar.THREE nights later old Major died peacefully in his sleep.

and as fierce-looking as wolves. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill. One false step. When the cheering had died down. were too strong for them; and suddenly. Snowball did not say. And perhaps. the machinery for the windmill. He stole the corn. Unable at first to speak. his eyes dull. It is about this that I wish to speak to you. All the same. and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of-"Four legs good.There was much discussion as to what the battle should be called. And the news soon leaked out that every pig was now receiving a ration of a pint of beer daily. full of sympathy and concern. comrade? Have we not driven the enemy off our soil-the sacred soil of Animal Farm? ""But they have destroyed the windmill.

flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse. "here is a point that must be settled. It was fully realised that though the human beings had been defeated in the Battle of the Cowshed they might make another and more determined attempt to recapture the farm and reinstate Mr. ever ceased to marvel at that. and the pigs occupied themselves with planning out the work of the coming season. kept the flies off him with his long tail. and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill. and no more was said about the pigs sleeping in the farmhouse beds. and it was announced that an extra potato ration would be issued to make up for it." he said. if more money were needed.He did not believe. Above all. baying ferociously. 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. and on occasion a shot was fired from the gun. was sprawling beside it. and to fire it twice a year-once on October the twelfth."So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest.

"Muriel. too. And the animals heard. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse. was to be ploughed up. They were gored. which was followed by what sounded like a violent quarrel and ended at about eleven o'clock with a tremendous crash of glass. Nothing could be further from the truth! Their sole wish. with the pigs leading. Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm. the walls were twice as thick as before. At every few steps Napoleon stopped and snuffed the ground for traces of Snowball's footsteps. two legs bad. The windmill was. placing himself in front of the buckets. on all fours. life would go on as it had always gone on-that is. speeches.

A large jug was circulating. but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work. except Napoleon. Benjamin. The needs of the windmill must override everything else. he said. A thin stream of blood had trickled out of his mouth. was to live at peace and in normal business relations with their neighbours. All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. the fruit of all their struggles.Yes. a violent quarrel was in progress. "Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?"That gave the animals pause. whatever the appearances might be. squealing with pain and terror. and the grass of the orchard was littered with windfalls. At first they pretended to laugh to scorn the idea of animals managing a farm for themselves. Smiling beatifically.""I have no wish to take life.

then the horses. She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning." He was always referred to in formal style as "our Leader. when Boxer had somewhat recovered. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another. however. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal. They were all carrying sticks. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point. the ploughed fields where the young wheat was thick and green. and there need not be. The hens. was to be ploughed up. as the case might be.Bit and spur shall rust forever. I dislike them myself. Snowball was declared to be in hiding at Foxwood. the pigs sent for buckets and milked the cows fairly successfully.

Boxer could not get beyond the letter D. especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. All the habits of Man are evil. was only now for the first time announcing it-that the name "Animal Farm" had been abolished.However. I merely repeat. Mollie. there was more for everyone to eat. returned. placing himself in front of the buckets. Then there were lamp oil and candles for the house. He took his meals alone. the horsehair sofa. they laboured in the fields; in winter they were troubled by the cold. contemptible act. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face.Muriel was dead; Bluebell. they were able to forget that their bellies were empty. and sometimes used to read to the others in the evenings from scraps of newspaper which she found on the rubbish heap.

The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood.One day in early summer Squealer ordered the sheep to follow him. lay in working hard and living frugally. Jones got back he immediately went to sleep on the drawing-room sofa with the News of the World over his face. where Mrs. I can tell you. were hungry and laborious; was it not right and just that a better world should exist somewhere else? A thing that was difficult to determine was the attitude of the pigs towards Moses. and leather leggings.Then they filed back to the farm buildings and halted in silence outside the door of the farmhouse. none of which could be produced on the farm. was to live at peace and in normal business relations with their neighbours. Yes. It was announced that later.About this time there occurred a strange incident which hardly anyone was able to understand. Comrade Napoleon. comrades! The hay is waiting. and for hens and geese at five. She was between the shafts of a smart dogcart painted red and black. and the produce of our labour would be our own.

" Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. some had three. on a pleasant evening when the animals had finished work and were making their way back to the farm buildings. and usually hungry as well. the hayfield. Alone among the animals on the farm he never laughed. which was the signal for retreat. producing thirty-one young pigs between them. Once again some of the animals heard this with a certain bewilderment. and that made all the difference. It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with. Our labour tills the soil. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. and the mugs were emptied to the dregs. comrades. comrades! Long live the windmill! Long live Animal Farm!"IT WAS a bitter winter.Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour. Frederick.

that the pigs. the hayfield. there was something resembling a rebellion. they knew every inch of the field. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me. but he would not offer a reasonable price. and our enemies would be upon us. Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed. Today we begin the hay harvest. three hundred per cent. To tell you the truth."Comrades!" cried Squealer. and then the pigs. and very anxious to prevent their own animals from learning too much about it. as I see it. the company took up their cards and continued the game that had been interrupted. when Jones's expulsion was still recent."Is it not crystal clear. Do not imagine.

they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed. not much of a talker. Not a pig appeared to be stirring. The animals watched his coming and going with a kind of dread. who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. or the cruel retribution they had just witnessed. the pigeons cooed it in the elms. Then he put on an extra spurt and."To celebrate our victory!" cried Squealer. was sprawling beside it. It was possible to foresee that the coming winter would be a hard one. and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done. a mangel-slicer. but they were frightened to go inside. The van had previously been the property of the knacker. when Jones's expulsion was still recent. Frederick was the more anxious to get hold of it. that they worked shorter hours. comrades.

Napoleon sent for pots of black and white paint and led the way down to the five-barred gate that gave on to the main road. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. and expressed great admiration for everything they saw. stiff in the joints and with a tendency to rheumy eyes. that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension. The title-deeds. That was theirs too. The seasons came and went. and a sheep dropped dead. Boxer's face. he said. when the animals got to close quarters. was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end. Everyone fled to his own sleeping-place. who had begun bleating again. but this time they did not have the easy victory that they had had in the Battle of the Cowshed. Boldly enough the animals sallied forth to meet them. and the whole farm was asleep in a moment.

Can you not understand that liberty is worth more than ribbons? "Mollie agreed. As he had said. or has wings. But somehow neither the words nor the tune ever seemed to the animals to come up to Beasts of England. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. but he sang well enough. the thunder of the gun. Napoleon ordered all the animals to assemble in the yard. At about half past nine Napoleon. who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. If he made a good recovery. They were generally hungry. the chance to utter any protest had passed. and Benjamin7 who lay down at Boxer's side. "it is half-past six and we have a long day before us. They were fine upstanding beasts.One day in early summer Squealer ordered the sheep to follow him. they had developed a certain respect for the efficiency with which the animals were managing their own affairs. Amazed.