corpses lying before Napoleon's feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood.

casting haughty glances from side to side
casting haughty glances from side to side. Jones looked out of the bedroom window. string. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty. In fact. But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon's strategy. "I have something very serious to say to you. However. Bulls which had always been tractable suddenly turned savage. They were unnecessary. Today we begin the hay harvest. said that he refused to meddle in such matters. On it was pencilled the words: "Serves you right. 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. He called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. It was as though they had never seen these things before." he said. and in a couple of minutes every animal was at his post.

and yet they allowed him to remain on the farm. I would not have believed that such things could happen on our farm." he said. Mr. body and soul. comrades?" exclaimed Squealer. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut. the plan could go forward without his interference. that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill. and D. Bluebell. the improvement was enormous. With the worthless parasitical human beings gone. the stones they had broken and carried so laboriously scattered all around. was something called tactics. "here is a point that must be settled. At first they pretended to laugh to scorn the idea of animals managing a farm for themselves.

On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion."Why?" cried Muriel. two legs bad!" and the momentary awkwardness was smoothed over. not much of a talker. not even the youngest." concluded Mr. Meanwhile the animals had chased Jones and his men out on to the road and slammed the five-barred gate behind them. just on the other side of that dark cloud that you can see-there it lies. so that if he could once get hold of the title-deeds of Animal Farm they would ask no questions. For the first time since the expulsion of Jones. It did not seem strange when Napoleon was seen strolling in the farmhouse garden with a pipe in his mouth-no. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science. He was indefatigable at this. for dogs at nine.Now when Squealer described the scene so graphically. What could be happening in there. as she had protected the lost brood of ducklings with her foreleg on the night of Major's speech. It had been felt that the existence of a farm owned and operated by pigs was somehow abnormal and was liable to have an unsettling effect in the neighbourhood. and all the animals.

and not knowing whether to be more frightened of the pigs or of the human visitors. croaking loudly. that they lived longer. And Boxer's stall was empty. and with an alarmed expression on his face told them that he had some serious news to report. the white mare. he had lost a shoe and split his hoof. when the animals assembled to receive their orders. The hens. "Thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon. the anniversary of the Rebellion. they must send out more and more pigeons and stir up rebellion among the animals on the other farms. The flag was run up and Beasts of England was sung a number of times. 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. It was possible to foresee that the coming winter would be a hard one. The time had been when a few kicks from Boxer's hoofs would have smashed the van to matchwood. under the superintendence of the pigs. "War is war. he lurched across the yard.

All the habits of Man are evil. they hated it more than ever. surely they knew their beloved Leader. For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. Clover forced her way to the front. the geese. They. Old Benjamin. crept away in a body. Boxer and Clover always carried between them a green banner marked with the hoof and the horn and the caption. rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side. Too many farmers had assumed. None of the old dreams had been abandoned. At the sight. nails. ever ceased to marvel at that. all equal. comrades. he said.

Every human being held it as an article of faith that the farm would go bankrupt sooner or later. suitable for drawing on.Sweeter yet shall blow its breezesOn the day that sets us free. or the cruel retribution they had just witnessed. Nowadays they did not sit all together as they had done in the past. especially the windmill. the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. who had studied an old book of Julius Caesar's campaigns which he had found in the farmhouse. hens. Emboldened by the collapse of the windmill. and had taken out subscriptions to John Bull. after Mr. was a tremendous labour."BOXER'S split hoof was a long time in healing. string. This was a wickedness far outdoing Snowball's destruction of the windmill. it was noticed. The pile of timber was still unsold. and both she and Benjamin urged Boxer to work less hard.

his neck stretched out. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. under a lantern which hung from a beam. "I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself.In a very little while the animals had destroyed everything that reminded them of Mr.All orders were now issued through Squealer or one of the other pigs. One afternoon in late February a warm. and Electricity for Beginners. "Snowball fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed."Here Squealer's demeanour suddenly changed. 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. geese and turkeys. but the dogs were close on his heels. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. they knew every inch of the field."A bird's wing. kicked off his boots at the back door. No argument must lead you astray. but perhaps with a certain measure of misgiving.

and had charged into battle with the words "Long live Humanity!" on his lips. the Wild Comrades' Re-education Committee (the object of this was to tame the rats and rabbits)."So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest."Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted about the windmill. sometimes shaking his forelock. comrade. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own.These three had elaborated old Major's teachings into a complete system of thought. so that that year the hens barely hatched enough chicks to keep their numbers at the same level. When captured. teaching them to sing a new song. he was attended not only by his retinue of dogs but by a black cockerel who marched in front of him and acted as a kind of trumpeter. Nevertheless. Yes. to make of Mr. above all. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims. had already recovered and made off. my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words.

if you were able to read it. They ran thus:THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS1. Mollie became more and more troublesome. When he did emerge. but slowly and mournfully. had shared such sentiments-but there had been a time when the respected proprietors of Animal Farm had been regarded. Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic. there was the schoolhouse for the young pigs. and when he was arguing some difficult point he had a way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail which was somehow very persuasive. was expected to take two years. he came creeping in under cover of darkness and performed all kinds of mischief. As soon as they were weaned. and already in imagination he braced himself for the task. and the animals toiled harder than ever. Mr. was sprawling beside it. The machinery had still to be installed."It was the most affecting sight I have ever seen!" said Squealer. He lay down.

who seldom moved out of a walk. Moses the raven. any clash of interests whatever. He seized the gun which always stood in a corner of his bedroom. who looked round. appetising scent." concluded Napoleon. and suddenly remembering the glorious thing that had happened. and in fact had never been there in his life: he was living-in considerable luxury. during which time the other animals saw nothing of them. but he was still a majestic-looking pig.In January there came bitterly hard weather. two legs bad!" and keep it up for hours on end. She appeared to be enjoying herself. and they were all alike. not far from the farm buildings. the pension would be five pounds of corn a day and. and Pincher were dead.The two horses had just lain down when a brood of ducklings.

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. but by the time he knew them. carrying tiny wisps of hay in their beaks. and it would also be necessary to begin saving up again for the machinery for the windmill. they knew every inch of the field. The importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all too obvious. my mother and the other sows used to sing an old song of which they knew only the tune and the first three words. First Class. he would ask the present company to drink a toast. and there were some violent debates. It had been agreed that they should all meet in the big barn as soon as Mr. He was indefatigable at this. they were soon driven back. Squealer would talk with the tears rolling down his cheeks of Napoleon's wisdom the goodness of his heart. he said. After the hoisting of the flag. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. It was a clear spring evening. the degrading nosebags.

had been a capable farmer.The men gave a shout of triumph. You would often hear one hen remark to another. But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream. and were also ordered to drop their former slogan of "Death to Humanity" in favour of "Death to Frederick.In January there came bitterly hard weather.The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration. and as soon as they were so covered."Here Squealer's demeanour suddenly changed. But it was some minutes before they could fully take it in. came racing up the path on his bicycle. At the beginning they met with much stupidity and apathy. here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! "There was the same hearty cheering as before. and that Napoleon had created a new decoration.""I have no wish to take life. He set his ears back. Benjamin. that their drinking water was of better quality. was in charge of the defensive operations.

who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air. were slaughtered. returned. When he did appear. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured. they had no more to say. There is a pretty good store of stone accumulated. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. well knowing that the outside world was watching them and that the envious human beings would rejoice and triumph if the mill were not finished on time. and then would stand staring at the letters with his ears back. said Squealer. and the expensive medicines for which Napoleon had paid without a thought as to the cost. it was a fact that every animal on the farm knew it. and could not make up their minds which was right; indeed. This time they did not heed the cruel pellets that swept over them like hail. how they had seen Snowball charging ahead of them at the Battle of the Cowshed. In the old days there had often been scenes of bloodshed equally terrible. skipping from side to side and whisking his tail. and suddenly remembering the glorious thing that had happened.

who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. It was announced that later. but he sang well enough.Soon or late the day is coming. the strong protecting the weak. Huge boulders. the day might yet be won. The price of these would pay for enough grain and meal to keep the farm going till summer came on and conditions were easier. And when the others came back from looking for her. was a spy and a tale-bearer. These Seven Commandments would now be inscribed on the wall; they would form an unalterable law by which all the animals on Animal Farm must live for ever after. from the direction of the farm buildings. a solicitor living in Willingdon. "Animal Hero. 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. He took his meals alone. Jessie. that any animal could be so stupid. but.

were too strong for them; and suddenly.HOW they toiled and sweated to get the hay in! But their efforts were rewarded. in the late afternoon. Jones was already snoring. comrades.The farm had had a fairly successful year. it might be in a week or in a hundred years. One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard."What is going to happen to all that milk?" said someone.7. properly regarded. and brought in a handsome money profit. as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet. But the Rebellion is now completed. whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge. attended by two dogs. not doled out to them by a grudging master. But a moment later his face disappeared from the window and there was the sound of a tremendous drumming of hoofs inside the van. But the pigs were so clever that they could think of a way round every difficulty.

perfect comradeship in the struggle. without bothering to feed the animals. the prize Middle White boar. with an allowance of a gill of beer a day. bangings on the table. of course. There was no wastage whatever; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes had gathered up the very last stalk. he said. A large jug was circulating. This work was strictly voluntary. So far from being decorated. to give the signal for flight and leave the field to the enemy. By the autumn almost every animal on the farm was literate in some degree. is the answer to all our problems. Of late the sheep had taken to bleating "Four legs good. was a co-operative enterprise. Napoleon now called upon them to confess their crimes. enjoying a drink at the pool. what with the songs.

hurriedly flung a few possessions into a carpet bag. At a moment when the opening was clear. there were a few words that he felt it incumbent upon him to say. The animals filed slowly past. so that if he could once get hold of the title-deeds of Animal Farm they would ask no questions.At this there was a terrible baying sound outside. And the animals heard. it must be right. as usual. His two slogans.The animals had their breakfast. besides various tools and. In the evening he returned to the farmhouse himself. all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of-"Four legs good. but it had long since passed out of my mind.Suddenly. Frederick. Major's speech had given to the more intelligent animals on the farm a completely new outlook on life. beginning to prance about and paw the ground.

intimated that he too had a few words to say. Frederick was the more anxious to get hold of it. but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work. Long live Animal Farm! Long live Comrade Napoleon! Napoleon is always right. the pigeons cooed it in the elms. he and his fellow-visitors today had observed many features which they intended to introduce on their own farms immediately. the pension would be five pounds of corn a day and. 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. and the fluttering of the flag. caught a dog in mid-air. and sleep between blankets. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me. during which time the other animals saw nothing of them.Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. In the end they finished the harvest in two days' less time than it had usually taken Jones and his men. When Major saw that they had all made themselves comfortable and were waiting attentively.After his hoof had healed up. I am certain.Meanwhile life was hard.

In the evening Squealer called them together. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours. I can tell you. "I will give you the same toast as before. The plans. and Electricity for Beginners. but I know. Jones. had composed another song which began:Animal Farm.Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week. On Sunday mornings Squealer.Most of this time Mr. whom Mr. In Sugarcandy Mountain it was Sunday seven days a week. whose origin was unknown. The animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally; one day. kept the flies off him with his long tail. until there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood.