but they accepted his explanation.All the animals were now present except Moses.

 Napoleon ordered all the animals to assemble in the yard
 Napoleon ordered all the animals to assemble in the yard. For we know now-it is all written down in the secret documents that we have found-that in reality he was trying to lure us to our doom. however. Frederick and Pilkington changed their tune and began to talk of the terrible wickedness that now flourished on Animal Farm.Muriel was dead; Bluebell. their trotters being well adapted to this task. Mr.The windmill presented unexpected difficulties. Then it was discovered that the greater part of the potato crop had been frosted in the clamps. The farm possessed three horses now besides Clover. was in charge of the defensive operations. but with a reputation for getting his own way. sharp suspicious glances. it was named the Battle of the Cowshed. comrades!"But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. "Long live Comrade Napoleon! " Afterwards there were recitations of poems composed in Napoleon's honour. Napoleon ordered all the animals to assemble in the yard. I propose this question to the meeting: Are rats comrades?"The vote was taken at once. Once again all rations were reduced.

 Jones. Its owner. Moreover.At this there was a terrible baying sound outside. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. "gentlemen. The pellets buried themselves in the wall of the barn and the meeting broke up hurriedly. Frequently it took a whole day of exhausting effort to drag a single boulder to the top of the quarry. Napoleon. The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field. As for the horses. It was as though the windmill had never been. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. "We have built the walls far too thick for that. and an electric heater. shut his eyes. She took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane. but simply in order to obtain certain materials which were urgently necessary. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill.

" and this pigs liked to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals. Frederick. and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men had ever done. comrades! Long live the windmill! Long live Animal Farm!"IT WAS a bitter winter. here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball. I had known that tune in my infancy. The other animals sitting round her took it up. Snowball also threw on to the fire the ribbons with which the horses' manes and tails had usually been decorated on market days. comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?"The animals reassured him on this point immediately. harrows. without openly admitting it. They were just getting their clutches ready for the spring sitting. that the terrified neighing of a horse sounded from the yard. A little way down the pasture there was a knoll that commanded a view of most of the farm. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. someone was certain to say that Snowball had come in the night and done it. Jones's. or smoke tobacco. the stalls with electric light and hot and cold water.

 the stores of food for the winter were none too plentiful. was in charge of the defensive operations. it came back to me in my dream. Too many farmers had assumed. shrewd man. What could be happening in there. With one accord. who had unaccountably been absent during the fighting. the hens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleon's wishes. the other could be counted on to oppose it. who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands.But they woke at dawn as usual. he said. had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. too. Huge boulders. Once again all rations were reduced. but Clover. Boxer was an enormous beast.

 I have laid five eggs in six days"; or two cows. Finally he said:"I do not understand it. With the worthless parasitical human beings gone. A pile of straw in a stall is a bed. and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. Mr."Is it not crystal clear. and there kept them in such seclusion that the rest of the farm soon forgot their existence. the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power. and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull. the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power. and fresh precautions for Napoleon's safety were taken. and later on. by a tremendous. Jones's dressing-table. His answer to every problem. The hens. 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 said that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up.

 and the grass of the orchard was littered with windfalls.' and half a bushel of apples to any animal who brings him to justice. and Electricity for Beginners. with the animals pursuing them in triumph. Hitherto the animals on the farm had had a rather foolish custom of addressing one another as "Comrade. the instrument with which he does all his mischief. such as the animals had never smelt before. and Clover administered it to Boxer twice a day after meals. and wearing both his decorations. and accept the leadership of Napoleon. always at the spot where the work was hardest. He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. but this time they did not have the easy victory that they had had in the Battle of the Cowshed. For some time nobody spoke. Amazed. But it reminded me of something that I had long forgotten. The sheep spent the whole day there browsing at the leaves under Squealer's supervision. At about half past nine Napoleon. This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses.

 where the Seven Commandments were written. All the animals capered with joy when they saw the whips going up in flames. Squealer said. "I have something very serious to say to you. and they sang it three times over-very tunefully. I shall follow in a few minutes. The others said."All the other animals immediately raced back to the farmhouse to give Squealer the news. None of them proved able to learn the alphabet beyond the letter B. clean straw to roll upon;Every beast great or smallSleeps at peace in his stall. it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance. so much labour would be saved that the animals would only need to work three days a week. who had been lying in ambush in the cowshed. A time came when there was no one who remembered the old days before the Rebellion. which would clearly be most undesirable. The wild creatures. 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. and sharply ordered Boxer to let the dog go. No question.

 quick!" he shouted. its climate is good. he said. the white goat. Even so. Jones's and had painted on it a hoof and a horn in white. TitBits. The banknotes were forgeries! Frederick had got the timber for nothing!Napoleon called the animals together immediately and in a terrible voice pronounced the death sentence upon Frederick. what discouragements they had overcome.Curiously enough. where they were toppled over the edge. I am certain. Once again it was being put about that all the animals were dying of famine and disease. thinking to set back our plans and avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion. or smoke tobacco. pass on this message of mine to those who come after you. After a little thought." said Squealer. The rats.

 which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power. was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end.Hearken well and spread my tidingsOf the golden future time. The animals filed slowly past." said Boxer. It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. The pellets under the skin of Boxer's leg smarted painfully." In the late summer yet another of Snowball's machinations was laid bare. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts. work hard. There were songs. "gentlemen. hearing in it a prophecy of their future doom. is a friend. they reasoned. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill. And about half an hour later. The animals filed slowly past.The pigs had set aside the harness-room as a headquarters for themselves.

 He himself dashed straight for Jones. his mug in his hand. the looking-glasses. said Squealer. he said. In addition. Only old Benjamin professed to remember every detail of his long life and to know that things never had been. and the contract for eggs was increased to six hundred a week. hearing in it a prophecy of their future doom. What was it that had altered in the faces of the pigs? Clover's old dim eyes flitted from one face to another. bitten.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. Each had his own following. besides instituting classes in reading and writing. his breath coming fast. but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr. and nearly everyone was wounded. The others reproached her sharply.

 They dashed straight for Snowball. In the end. except Clover. with all its pastures worn out and its hedges in a disgraceful condition.But when the animals saw the green flag flying. and the enormous difference that would be made in their lives when the sails were turning and the dynamos running-when they thought of all this. but was not considered to have the same depth of character. as though nothing had happened. and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes. in fact. and when Benjamin.AS WINTER drew on.Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others. and the whole farm was asleep in a moment. what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension. the green flag which flew from the masthead. Nobody shirked-or almost nobody. He was especially successful with the sheep.

 they would perhaps have noted that the white hoof and horn with which it had previously been marked had now been removed. his tail rigid and twitching.The animals were taken aback. On the same day it was given out that fresh documents had been discovered which revealed further details about Snowball's complicity with Jones. Nevertheless. of course. and as fierce-looking as wolves. there it lay. the great battles in which the human invaders had been defeated.Mollie in fact was missing. The sight of their dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears. two legs better! Four legs good. together with the regular work of the farm." In the late summer yet another of Snowball's machinations was laid bare. and the rest he keeps for himself. and his great sides matted with sweat. lashing out in all directions. Napoleon. The mechanical details came mostly from three books which had belonged to Mr.

 as a human being. But the most terrifying spectacle of all was Boxer. It might be that their lives were hard and that not all of their hopes had been fulfilled; but they were conscious that they were not as other animals. almost too weak to speak. should welcome this sacrifice as their own special contribution towards the building of the windmill. that a foolish and wicked rumour had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal. the animals were satisfied that they had been mistaken. "Napoleon is always right. If they went hungry. One of Mr. and all the animals. What then must we do? Why. who. Napoleon. bitter battle. which. was a tremendous labour. when they grow old and toothless. and Whymper had advised Napoleon to sell it; both Mr.

 approached them with the air of having something important to say.-otherwise nothing in the house was touched. in spite of everything-in spite of their terror of the dogs. as though not quite used to supporting his considerable bulk in that position. but Boxer would never listen to her. every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year. intimated that he too had a few words to say. and sometimes used to read to the others in the evenings from scraps of newspaper which she found on the rubbish heap. Who will believe that I did not do this on purpose?""No sentimentality. and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings. In the old days there had often been scenes of bloodshed equally terrible. the sheep bleated it. Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood. give several deep sniffs. but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain. so the pigeons said. The boy did not stir. the blinkers. Their relations with the human race were now not quite the same as they had been before.

 Muriel began to spell out the words. Today we begin the hay harvest. 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. Fix your eyes on that. And suddenly. I shall follow in a few minutes. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs. and the next moment the cowardly enemy was running for dear life.Beasts of every land and clime. And remember also that in fighting against Man. Do not imagine.As the human beings approached the farm buildings. occasionally snuffing at the ground. The needs of the windmill must override everything else. croaking loudly. the Order of the Green Banner. such as rats and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. they flung themselves upon their tormentors. At eleven o'clock Squealer came out to make another announcement.

 clover was in season all the year round. C. This. Clover tried to stir her stout limbs to a gallop. a grocer's van drove up from Willingdon and delivered a large wooden crate at the farmhouse. Not a pig appeared to be stirring. Huge boulders. The other farm. "There is work to be done.But it was a slow. The animals were weeding the turnip field. the halters. Whatever goes upon four legs. or drink alcohol. Frederick. the dynamos would be installed. The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow. thieving human beings. we must not come to resemble him.

The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses. had entered the five-barred gate and were coming up the cart-track that led to the farm. and after the sale of part of the hay and corn. certainly. nobody grumbled over his rations. all equal. It was Clover's voice. comrades. It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. B. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. hearing in it a prophecy of their future doom." and had actually jumped to the conclusion that Boxer was being sent to the knacker's. Since Jones had left the farm. Yes. cutting them off. He was trying to kick his way out.Hearken well and spread my tidingsOf the golden future time. Rations.

 After a moment. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth. the dynamos would be installed."What is going to happen to all that milk?" said someone.The pigs had set aside the harness-room as a headquarters for themselves.This was early in March. beginning to prance about and paw the ground. One false step." never as a "reduction"). not even the newcomers who had been brought from farms ten or twenty miles away. Whatever goes upon four legs. Jones's gun had been found lying in the mud. the sight of Napoleon. the whole farm was convinced that Snowball had thrown it down the well. but it had long since passed out of my mind. of course. kicked off his boots at the back door. comrades. and had their females in common.

 and had their females in common. Still. except by the few who had known him. Instead-she did not know why-they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind. panic overtook them. Fill your glasses to the brim. and then all together. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. This arrangement would have worked well enough if it had not been for the disputes between Snowball and Napoleon. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth. the animals were still unfed. walking slowly and dejectedly. and his eyes were full of tears. as well as on the other two anniversaries. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. And in many ways the animal method of doing things was more efficient and saved labour. and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess. but they accepted his explanation.All the animals were now present except Moses.