successfully. The animals watched them."Boxer!" she cried.

 and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings
 and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings."I do not believe that Snowball was a traitor at the beginning. the sight of Napoleon. F. but the structure was completed. saying that he would make himself responsible for their education. and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them. at the beds with their feather mattresses.Clover." said Snowball. the dogs whined it. Snowball now gave the signal for the charge. something between Clementine and La Cucaracha. He himself dashed straight for Jones. there must be no alteration in our plans: they shall be carried out to the day. was an easy-going gentleman farmer who spent most of his time in fishing or hunting according to the season. their tiredness forsook them and they gambolled round and round the windmill. All animals should go naked.

 Suddenly he halted as though his mind were made up. 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. 'No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets. who sprang out of bed. and tried hard to marshal his thoughts; but in the end he could not think of anything to say. comrades!' he whispered." she said. and had worked out a complicated scheme for all the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields. but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr. but they saw clearly that it was their duty to prepare for it. and they were all alike. They all declared contemptuously that his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain were lies. His imagination had now run far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. we must not come to resemble him."What victory?" said Boxer. and seemed to understand. the mighty thing that we have done. His eyes were glazed.

 at which he yelled horribly. were also said to be in league with Snowball. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made. especially from Clover. We will teach this miserable traitor that he cannot undo our work so easily. Never had the farm-and with a kind of surprise they remembered that it was their own farm. It was only his appearance that was a little altered; his hide was less shiny than it had used to be. All the animals capered with joy when they saw the whips going up in flames. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured. is to work harder. but perhaps with a certain measure of misgiving. 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. the sheep bleated it. Napoleon ordered all the animals to assemble in the yard." he said. A pile of straw in a stall is a bed. the dogs promptly tore their throats out. But that society has now been established.

 they reasoned. Some of the pigs themselves. Jones saw him coming. Even Boxer was vaguely troubled. and found traces of Snowball almost everywhere. she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the straw with her hoof. I think you will be able to finish the windmill without me. Jones's gun had been found lying in the mud. but spent all his time in the farmhouse. comrades. Nobody stole. but Squealer spoke so persuasively. Pilkington's before emptying it. that on such a farm a spirit of licence and indiscipline would prevail.YEARS passed. but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault. Even in the farmhouse. who had been lying in ambush in the cowshed.

 was puzzled. and the following morning Squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery. four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message. as the summer wore on.' and half a bushel of apples to any animal who brings him to justice. Napoleon emerged from the farmhouse.The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration. During the next three months there was much secret activity. To my mind this explains a great deal." in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder. Jones's trap. 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. "I have something very serious to say to you. then to Snowball. Last night. bitten. then the debates must stop.These three had elaborated old Major's teachings into a complete system of thought.

 for which there was always a market in Willingdon. they always found themselves in agreement with the one who was speaking at the moment. scrap-iron. comrade!" or "Whoa back. Napoleon himself. Not even a rat had been killed. That. whom they referred to as "Master. he was strolling across the yard.Within a few weeks Snowball's plans for the windmill were fully worked out. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. for dogs at nine. She was telling them that all animals were now comrades and that any sparrow who chose could come and perch on her paw; but the sparrows kept their distance. speeches. when panic was spreading and all seemed lost. Squealer said. bangings on the table. the animals were satisfied that they had been mistaken.

 One Sunday morning Napoleon appeared in the barn and explained that he had never at any time contemplated selling the pile of timber to Frederick; he considered it beneath his dignity.But everyone worked according to his capacity The hens and ducks. Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill. In Sugarcandy Mountain it was Sunday seven days a week. The sheep spent the whole day there browsing at the leaves under Squealer's supervision. that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg? Surely you remember that. and Clover administered it to Boxer twice a day after meals. rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves of their legs. Benjamin was the oldest animal on the farm. It is summed up in a single word-Man. Boxer could not get beyond the letter D. "Under the guidance of our Leader. but Snowball proved to them that this was not so. hens.Ere he had grown as bigEven as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin. that any of the old suspicions still lingered. Frederick was the more anxious to get hold of it.' Those were his very last words.

 pigs. and D. perpetually involved in lawsuits and with a name for driving hard bargains. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. the tune and even the words of Beasts of England were known everywhere. whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge. and promptly sat down again; he had spoken for barely thirty seconds. 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. Besides. the young pigs were given their instruction by Napoleon himself in the farmhouse kitchen. It was impossible now to venture out of the shelter of the buildings. by Snowball-and two other sheep confessed to having murdered an old ram. would be suppressed.When it was all over. Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse. however. If he made a good recovery. Long live Animal Farm! Long live Comrade Napoleon! Napoleon is always right.

" and this pigs liked to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals. then the sheep.Unfortunately. there was a stormy debate over the correct retiring age for each class of animal. which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work. And-I was a long way away. however. Moses the raven. he had killed a dog by throwing it into the furnace. Discipline. with a few inches to spare. the retiring age had been fixed for horses and pigs at twelve. Jones and his men suddenly found themselves being butted and kicked from all sides. a mangel-slicer. Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. or has wings. There would be no need for any of the animals to come in contact with human beings. with his moonshine of windmills-Snowball.

 The whole thing would be over in a fortnight. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions.The animals were thoroughly frightened. This was a wickedness far outdoing Snowball's destruction of the windmill. but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. and with a hard effort managed to formulate his thoughts.At last the day came when Snowball's plans were completed. The grass and the bursting hedges were gilded by the level rays of the sun. comrades! The hay is waiting. from the direction of the farm buildings. the improvement was enormous. as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard. two legs bad!" which went on for nearly a quarter of an hour and put an end to any chance of discussion. and let fly a charge of number 6 shot into the darkness. Jones's. if you were able to read it. They could not remember. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me.

 It was almost unbelievable. should have a quiet place to work in. he did learn E." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. "Long live Comrade Napoleon! " Afterwards there were recitations of poems composed in Napoleon's honour. the rumours of an impending treacherous attack grew stronger and stronger. they absorbed everything that they were told. Unfortunate incidents had occurred. in the henhouses. the Order of the Green Banner. There were times when it seemed to the animals that they worked longer hours and fed no better than they had done in Jones's day. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. and made it a point of honour not to let it be seen that he was in pain. Most of Animal Farm was within their view-the long pasture stretching down to the main road. It was the first time that they had ever seen Benjamin excited-indeed. is a friend. Even Napoleon. The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song.

 they knew every inch of the field.One day in early summer Squealer ordered the sheep to follow him. That was how the mistake had arisen. horses. and managed to limp back to his stall. Hitherto the animals on the farm had had a rather foolish custom of addressing one another as "Comrade. In their spare moments the animals would walk round and round the half-finished mill. but I know. Only Boxer and Clover never lost heart.November came. the whole farm burst out into Beasts of England in tremendous unison. The sheep spent the whole day there browsing at the leaves under Squealer's supervision. they secretly trembled. 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. The solution. Frederick of Pinchfield-but never. she fetched Muriel. And thereafter.

 then the sheep who had been killed was given a solemn funeral. to which all animals went when they died. twenty cows. The field beyond the orchard had already been sown with barley. as I see it. Napoleon had commanded that once a week there should be held something called a Spontaneous Demonstration. Pilkington once again congratulated the pigs on the low rations. Jones. he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. His very first blow took a stable-lad from Foxwood on the skull and stretched him lifeless in the mud." said Boxer. Sometimes the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion. and the afternoon was given up to recreation. like a piece of artillery. comrades." And though no one cared to mention it in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs. levelled to its foundations. We have removed the sheets from the farmhouse beds.

 which had been troublesome that winter. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets. At heart. Not even a rat had been killed. inexperienced though the animals were. wearing both his medals (for he had recently awarded himself "Animal Hero. He had become much disheartened after losing money in a lawsuit. he would not say with hostility.It had come to his knowledge. and the pigs had great difficulty in making them see that this was contrary to the spirit of Animalism." This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. which are a human invention. Napoleon was a large. with Squealer a few rungs below him holding the paint-pot. Never to have any dealings with human beings.YEARS passed. "Come at once! They're taking Boxer away!" Without waiting for orders from the pig. Our labour tills the soil.

 Clover forced her way to the front. If they went hungry.Comrade Napoleon!Had I a sucking-pig. Second Class").Napoleon took no interest in Snowball's committees. 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. suddenly appeared on the men's flank. In fact. It would be a plain green flag from now onwards. but of late he had fallen on evil days. 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. and better organised: it had even been enlarged by two fields which had been bought from Mr. the sight of Napoleon.Unfortunately. the strains of Beasts of England were mixed up. comrades. He announced that.A week later.

He carried a whip in his trotter. Frederick were anxious to buy it. but by the time he knew them. "I was at his bedside at the very last. Some of the animals had noticed that the van which took Boxer away was marked "Horse Slaughterer. and then where should we be? Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball. hens.They had won. The pigeons swirled into the air. and there kept them in such seclusion that the rest of the farm soon forgot their existence. hens. "We have built the walls far too thick for that.The animals had their breakfast."Mollie! Look me in the face. and receive their orders for the week; but there would be no more debates. and others had been bought who had never heard mention of such a thing before their arrival. but Squealer spoke so persuasively.Napoleon decreed that there should be a full investigation into Snowball's activities.

 in which. In these days Napoleon rarely appeared in public. reading over the Seven Commandments to herself. and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. and the animals crept silently away. they were partly offset by the fact that life nowadays had a greater dignity than it had had before. casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball. and the red roofs of the farm buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys. as though nothing had happened. But before doing so. Today he and his friends had visited Animal Farm and inspected every inch of it with their own eyes. an especially devoted follower of Napoleon. while Benjamin turned around and lashed at them with his small hoofs. above all. Nobody shirked-or almost nobody. you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night." he said. Before long the other animals began to arrive and make themselves comfortable after their different fashions.

 At such times his lips were seen to form the words. the degrading nosebags. They had never seen animals behave like this before. cows kicked the pail over. which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power. and how many of those eggs ever hatched into chickens? The rest have all gone to market to bring in money for Jones and his men. she began to sing Beasts of England.By the evening. which was always served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. The knoll where they were lying gave them a wide prospect across the countryside. Almost before Major had reached the end. The animals slain in the battle were given a solemn funeral. some had four. All the same. he gnawed the bark off the fruit trees. the pigs sent for buckets and milked the cows fairly successfully. The animals watched them."Boxer!" she cried.