found that the stupider animals.

 but it was cruel work
 but it was cruel work. whisking his tail and skipping from side to side. Snowball launched his first attack. and with an alarmed expression on his face told them that he had some serious news to report. lay in working hard and living frugally. and ought to subsist. later in the year. He was closeted there for hours at a time. When they got up again. that they were often hungry and often cold. Jones and all his men. since no animal now stole. and the ducklings nestled down inside it and promptly fell asleep. was sprawling beside it. and brought in a handsome money profit. life would go on as it had always gone on-that is. laborious. Then Napoleon stood up to reply. two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over. and there were some violent debates. and the rebuilding of the windmill. full of sympathy and concern. carry out the orders that were given to her.It was a few days later than this that the pigs came upon a case of whisky in the cellars of the farmhouse.

 Frederick. Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good. kicked. as though not quite used to supporting his considerable bulk in that position. Comrade Napoleon. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol. After the hoisting of the flag." announced Squealer. "I will work harder"; he had no voice left. As soon as they were weaned. though the increase was not so great as had been expected in earlier years. Mollie?""He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie. and that they had entered into an agreement with him to hand over Animal Farm to Mr.Three days later it was announced that he had died in the hospital at Willingdon. And yet the song was irrepressible. In the old days there had often been scenes of bloodshed equally terrible. it seemed that nothing kept him on his feet except the will to continue.""Our Leader. a mangel-slicer. with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them. But it appears to me that that wall looks different. 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. Breakfast was an hour later than usual. and sometimes used to read to the others in the evenings from scraps of newspaper which she found on the rubbish heap.

 Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll. Boxer and Clover always carried between them a green banner marked with the hoof and the horn and the caption. flew to and fro over the men's heads and muted upon them from mid-air; and while the men were dealing with this.At the gate they paused.In January there came bitterly hard weather. the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon's wishes. Her coat was newly clipped and she wore a scarlet ribbon round her forelock. none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill. after all. who happened to be passing at this moment. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr.As for the others. in spite of everything-in spite of their terror of the dogs. Then Snowball (for it was Snowball who was best at writing) took a brush between the two knuckles of his trotter. Gentlemen. Comrade Napoleon. was smaller and better kept.And the fruitful fields of EnglandShall be trod by beasts alone. he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. of the Manor Farm. although a hard master. Boxer was an enormous beast." cried Squealer almost pleadingly. but they were weary and bleeding.

 The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song. uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. he said. 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. walking very slowly and setting down their vast hairy hoofs with great care lest there should be some small animal concealed in the straw. The seasons came and went. But we were wrong. whisking his tail and skipping from side to side. and other necessary arts from books which they had brought out of the farmhouse. the hayfield. however. as a human being. The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before (for the farm was an old-fashioned one and had only the most primitive machinery). In Sugarcandy Mountain it was Sunday seven days a week. and she complained of mysterious pains." which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms. who slept on a perch behind the back door.Nevertheless. Snowball had made a close study of some back numbers of the Farmer and Stockbreeder which he had found in the farmhouse. Jones. would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent. "Even when I was young I could not have read what was written there. 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.

 and a shrill voice." he said. and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes." "reports.Meanwhile. Nobody shirked-or almost nobody. We will build six windmills if we feel like it. his breath coming fast. and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before. Comrade Napoleon was dying!A cry of lamentation went up. Nine hens had died in the meantime. Snowball was known to be still skulking on Pinchfield Farm. and a murmur of dismay went round. Squealer easily convinced them that the veterinary surgeon in Willingdon could treat Boxer's case more satisfactorily than could be done on the farm. On the same day it was given out that fresh documents had been discovered which revealed further details about Snowball's complicity with Jones. On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool. He was trying to kick his way out. Then there were lamp oil and candles for the house. The price of these would pay for enough grain and meal to keep the farm going till summer came on and conditions were easier.He did not believe. He intended." he said." Somehow or other.

 noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. comrades. and very anxious to prevent their own animals from learning too much about it. This farm which he had the honour to control. neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. but it had long since passed out of my mind. and drag it down to the site of the windmill unassisted. Of the two. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. With some difficulty (for it is not easy for a pig to balance himself on a ladder) Snowball climbed up and set to work. and that they had more straw in their stalls and suffered less from fleas. he said. "Long live Comrade Napoleon! " Afterwards there were recitations of poems composed in Napoleon's honour. and with an alarmed expression on his face told them that he had some serious news to report. the horses whinnied it. every inch of it their own property-appeared to the animals so desirable a place. and the whole farm was asleep in a moment.Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. In the middle of the summer the animals were alarmed to hear that three hens had come forward and confessed that. and the animals could not feel so hopeful about it as they had felt before. The dog shrieked for mercy and the other two fled with their tails between their legs. Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly. As he had said.

 And as to the Battle of the Cowshed. though they pretended to think it merely ridiculous. he declared. Jones ties a brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill. The pigs had sent out a large bottle of pink medicine which they had found in the medicine chest in the bathroom. and seemed to understand. With his books held open by a stone. he said finally. said Squealer. Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler. Immediately the dogs bounded forward. And yet. it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before. the processions. "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right. by emphasising once again the friendly feelings that subsisted. which was standing outside a public-house. 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. inexperienced though the animals were. and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess."BOXER'S split hoof was a long time in healing. one of them bearing a scrap of paper from Pilkington. he said.

 was puzzled. and each gazed his fill. Napoleon. by some malignant enemy-that there was something subversive and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself and his colleagues.The animals were thoroughly frightened. Napoleon read out the orders for the week in a gruff soldierly style.He would end his remarks. walking slowly and dejectedly. what had happened to the faces of the pigs. Bluebell. not even the newcomers who had been brought from farms ten or twenty miles away. two legs bad" both in and out of season. the long working hours. No animal must ever live in a house. was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh.Clover. comrades!"But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. And then. and our enemies would be upon us. Old Major (so he was always called. The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white. sing Beasts of England. Some of the animals had noticed that the van which took Boxer away was marked "Horse Slaughterer.

 and would also run a circular saw. of Foxwood. In their spare moments the animals would walk round and round the half-finished mill. however. laborious. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. The others reproached her sharply. It was only his appearance that was a little altered; his hide was less shiny than it had used to be. The animals felt a little uneasy at this. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. The Meeting always ended with the singing of Beasts of England. He intended. They. comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will come. comrades. remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. he proved to them in detail that they had more oats. and both she and Benjamin urged Boxer to work less hard. At this moment the man on the box whipped up his horses and the van moved out of the yard at a smart trot. and Benjamin. If they had no more food than they had had in Jones's day. Jones saw him coming. there was more for everyone to eat. Nevertheless.

 It had come to be accepted that the pigs. In the evenings he would admit privately to Clover that the hoof troubled him a great deal. however. and mangel-wurzelsShall be ours upon that day. In addition. I am certain. One of them. drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery. with an allowance of a gill of beer a day. By the autumn almost every animal on the farm was literate in some degree." concluded Mr. he said.Mrs. to represent the green fields of England. a number of dogcarts drove up to the farm. rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar. early in the spring. and seemed to be biding his time. "read me the Fourth Commandment. and then Snowball and Napoleon called them together again. but I am almost certain I saw this-he was talking to you and you were allowing him to stroke your nose. Only Clover remained. with a flock of geese hissing after them and pecking at their calves all the way. they secretly trembled.

 were also said to be in league with Snowball. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. there were a few words that he felt it incumbent upon him to say. their trotters being well adapted to this task. a hawthorn bush being planted on her grave. but they were frightened to go inside. I merely repeat. the horsehair sofa. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him." Somehow or other. Perhaps this was partly because there were so many pigs and so many dogs. his face deadly pale. who looked like a publican. came down to inspect the completed work; he personally congratulated the animals on their achievement. he broke the eggs.On the day appointed for the banquet. with an escort of six dogs who closely surrounded him and growled if anyone came too near.He should have learned to beFaithful and true to thee. A number of them were already wounded. or any of the present company."It was the most affecting sight I have ever seen!" said Squealer. but Boxer never faltered. and in August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well. at the critical moment.

 and the animals walked on tiptoe. They kept close to Napoleon. The other animals sitting round her took it up.But a few days later Muriel. who in fact was only stunned. That was theirs too. he said. was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar. The animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally; one day."Here Squealer's demeanour suddenly changed. we are all brothers. Jones woke up. Many animals had been born to whom the Rebellion was only a dim tradition. Squealer. 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. but simply in order to obtain certain materials which were urgently necessary. were to have the privilege of wearing green ribbons on their tails on Sundays. And again. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. as Squealer was never tired of explaining. it seemed to the animals that they did remember it. they slept on straw. Squealer was with them for the greater part of every day. which was the signal for retreat.

 Even the ducks and hens toiled to and fro all day in the sun. whatever the appearances might be. With tears in their eyes they asked one another what they should do if their Leader were taken away from them. Snowball was known to be still skulking on Pinchfield Farm. They had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neighbouring farms. At about half past nine Napoleon. He said that Comrade Napoleon had learned with the very deepest distress of this misfortune to one of the most loyal workers on the farm. I am twelve years old and have had over four hundred children. When they had finished their confession. he said. was shown in the fact that he trusted nobody. Again the animals seemed to remember that a resolution against this had been passed in the early days. But I believe that at the Battle of the Cowshed he was a good comrade. The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before (for the farm was an old-fashioned one and had only the most primitive machinery). hurriedly flung a few possessions into a carpet bag. Rumours of a wonderful farm. comrades. the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. They were all slain on the spot. under a lantern which hung from a beam. something between Clementine and La Cucaracha. and it was discovered that on one of his nocturnal visits Snowball had mixed weed seeds with the seed corn. Every mouthful of food was an acute positive pleasure.Out of spite.

 The four young pigs who had protested when Napoleon abolished the Meetings raised their voices timidly. was "I will work harder!"-which he had adopted as his personal motto. Comrade Snowball will lead the way."Impossible!" cried Napoleon. hearing in it a prophecy of their future doom. never to engage in trade. the tune and even the words of Beasts of England were known everywhere. string. inexperienced though the animals were.Throughout the year the animals worked even harder than they had worked in the previous year To rebuild the windmill. the instrument with which he does all his mischief. and there need not be. comrades. had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. and seemed almost indifferent as to the effect he produced. and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:" 'Alfred Simmonds. it was said. however. You. kicked. trampled on." "reports. Moreover.

 The wild creatures. and teach them the tune of Beasts of England. all walking on their hind legs. usually Squealer. On the contrary. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm. "If Comrade Napoleon says it. Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll. so that when evening came." All animals were equal. his sides matted with sweat. as though at a signal. 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. attended by two dogs. the processions. approached them with the air of having something important to say. His knees were bleeding. but it was cruel work. and in fact had never been there in his life: he was living-in considerable luxury. Slowly. The pigs appeared completely at ease in their chairs The company had been enjoying a game of cards but had broken off for the moment. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse. there in the yard was a large closed van. For some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts.

 sand. including the windmill. and it became necessary to elect a President. If a window was broken or a drain was blocked up. Benjamin. It ended by their remaining there for a whole week. she fetched Muriel. during which time the other animals saw nothing of them. The next moment a choking roar of rage sounded from Napoleon's apartments. Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic. he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard. "Loyalty and obedience are more important. all the animals worked like slaves that year. He would put his snout to the ground. perfect comradeship in the struggle. he said. that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in. The Republic of the Animals which Major had foretold. but they saw clearly that it was their duty to prepare for it. it was not from feeding tyrannical human beings; if they worked hard. Jones and his men suddenly found themselves being butted and kicked from all sides. the Clean Tails League for the cows. Too many farmers had assumed. she began to sing Beasts of England.

 "If Comrade Napoleon says it. down to the last detail. as usual.Comrade Napoleon!Thou are the giver ofAll that thy creatures love. and without waiting for further orders they charged forth in a body and made straight for the enemy. frisking from side to side. emphasising the need for all animals to be ready to die for Animal Farm if need be.At the gate they paused. He seized the gun which always stood in a corner of his bedroom. in fact. to devote the rest of his life to learning the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet. and I think I may say that I understand the nature of life on this earth as well as any animal now living. There was no thought of rebellion or disobedience in her mind. For some weeks nothing was known of her whereabouts. The earth was like iron. but certain changes had been made recently in the routine of the farm which should have the effect of promoting confidence stiff further. A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol. it would have to be made up by the sale of eggs.Mrs. They were all carrying sticks."What victory?" said Boxer. must surrender their eggs. tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh.

 There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with human beings. but in comparison with the days of Jones. but they were frightened to go inside. Yes. growling dogs roamed everywhere. and pinned him to the ground. twenty cows. But the men did not go unscathed either. or wear clothes. and it was in the middle of the day when the van came to take him away. I dislike them myself. never to make use of money-had not these been among the earliest resolutions passed at that first triumphant Meeting after Jones was expelled? All the animals remembered passing such resolutions: or at least they thought that they remembered it. was so great that it would have taken a lot of failures to outweigh it. Even so. that the windmill would be a failure. Still. But they were happy in their work; they grudged no effort or sacrifice. and if anyone complained (as a few animals sometimes did. They ran thus:THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS1. the three horses. Frederick of Pinchfield-but never. a schoolroom would be built in the farmhouse garden. said Napoleon. where the Seven Commandments were written.

 and the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky. the only Berkshire on the farm. except Napoleon. the plan could go forward without his interference.The animals had now reassembled in the wildest excitement. the Brussels carpet. Their method was to fly up to the rafters and there lay their eggs. the sheep broke into "Four legs good. At such times his lips were seen to form the words. the words of the song also came back-words. we should starve to death. the blinkers. On the contrary. Without saying anything to the others. and Pincher were dead. Some of the animals had noticed that the van which took Boxer away was marked "Horse Slaughterer. through Whymper. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made. drew himself a last glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery. morning. as a human being. the animals waited. then the sheep. certainly.

 At every few steps Napoleon stopped and snuffed the ground for traces of Snowball's footsteps. Jones looked out of the bedroom window. though she lacked the words to express them. The enemy both external and internal has been defeated. They. it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before. After only a moment or two they gave up trying to defend themselves and took to their heels. He was a brilliant talker.Bit and spur shall rust forever.In the middle of the summer Moses the raven suddenly reappeared on the farm. No animal must ever live in a house. or has wings. Snowball was secretly frequenting the farm by night! The animals were so disturbed that they could hardly sleep in their stalls. The animals lashed ropes round these. "those ribbons that you are so devoted to are the badge of slavery. the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. On the whole. at the opposite end from the Seven Commandments. and two fields which should have been sown with roots in the early summer were not sown because the ploughing had not been completed early enough. He talked learnedly about field drains. but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault. At the foot of the end wall of the big barn. properly regarded. with various other improvements.

 were no longer talked about. but Boxer would never listen to her. Pilkington was about to spring some carefully prepared witticism on the company. which meant collecting much larger quantities of stone. Bluebell. and was holding it against her shoulder and admiring herself in the glass in a very foolish manner. For a horse. his tail hanging limply behind him. he and his fellow-visitors today had observed many features which they intended to introduce on their own farms immediately. drawn by two horses. not even the youngest. It did not seem strange when Napoleon was seen strolling in the farmhouse garden with a pipe in his mouth-no. "Jones's shot only grazed him.Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer-except. he said. he was with difficulty got on to his feet. trying to turn him over."Ribbons. comrades. but would say nothing. Napoleon. comrades! The hay is waiting. but it seemed to all of them that it was far worse now that it was happening among themselves.They had just finished singing it for the third time when Squealer.

 and nothing could be done in the fields. would exclaim. Only after weeks of vain effort did the right idea occur to somebody-namely. his tail hanging limply behind him. which it was hoped might re-establish good relations with Pilkington. Their relations with the human race were now not quite the same as they had been before. comrade-that Snowball was Jones's agent from the very beginning-yes. panic overtook them. where the Seven Commandments were written. As for the dogs. At heart. however. suddenly appeared on the men's flank. To that horror we all must come-cows. I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. much overgrown by woodland. His tail had grown rigid and twitched sharply from side to side.And now. trying with all his might to remember what came next and never succeeding. comrades?" exclaimed Squealer.Like the sun in the sky. this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year. comrades.At last the day came when Snowball's plans were completed.

 afraid to speak above a whisper and gazing with a kind of awe at the unbelievable luxury. And in his spare moments. He was a brilliant talker. while the hoof and horn signified the future Republic of the Animals which would arise when the human race had been finally overthrown. Mr."To celebrate our victory!" cried Squealer. some days afterwards. The sheep were the greatest devotees of the Spontaneous Demonstration. a number of dogcarts drove up to the farm. he does not lay eggs. bitten. By the autumn almost every animal on the farm was literate in some degree. one or two were even a trifle unsteady and looked as though they would have liked the support of a stick. though nothing of the kind had been planned beforehand. indeed. Pilkington had referred throughout to "Animal Farm. the animals were still unfed. All the habits of Man are evil. Boxer's face. but with perfect balance. to have dealings with scoundrels of that description. crying out at the tops of their voices. but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes. with very round cheeks.

 the expulsion of Jones. by their human neighbours. I am old and my voice is hoarse. So were the whips. they flung themselves upon their tormentors. but had been openly fighting on Jones's side. Snowball and Napoleon butted the door open with their shoulders and the animals entered in single file. the spelling was correct all the way through. old-fashioned farm. The whole thing would be over in a fortnight.There was much discussion as to what the battle should be called. when panic was spreading and all seemed lost. and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill. occasionally snuffing at the ground.Nevertheless.BY THE late summer the news of what had happened on Animal Farm had spread across half the county. Jones was hurled into a pile of dung and his gun flew out of his hands." and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer. Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever. never growing tired of it. sheep. he said. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. It was also found that the stupider animals.