was much discussion as to what the battle should be called.

 there in the yard was a large closed van
 there in the yard was a large closed van. by their human neighbours. he amused himself in the evenings by making cocks fight with splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs. Surely. without bothering to feed the animals. and ought to subsist. who. came mincing daintily in. these projects were a failure. But as the animals outside gazed at the scene. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep.""Our Leader.""But he was wounded. and more firing of the gun. Pilkington's men was standing on the other side of the hedge. "We all saw him running with blood. not even human life. and if anyone complained (as a few animals sometimes did. Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm. besides supplying every stall with its own electric light. and had in reality been a pensioner of Pilkington for years past. lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. he said.Three days later Mollie disappeared.And the harness from our back.

 but very stupid. but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work. and made his way up to bed. he had killed a dog by throwing it into the furnace. The blackbirds whistled it in the hedges. sat on the front of the raised platform."But at this moment the three cows. but he sang well enough. And by the time the sheep had quieted down. in spite of everything-in spite of their terror of the dogs. had all been prepared. sharp suspicious glances. broke into a passionate appeal in favour of the windmill. perfect comradeship in the struggle. "We have built the walls far too thick for that. 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. Once again it was being put about that all the animals were dying of famine and disease. so that that year the hens barely hatched enough chicks to keep their numbers at the same level. hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with. and there were some violent debates. It was as though they had never seen these things before. While Major was speaking four large rats had crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters. better than that? But the explanation was really very simple. Old Major (so he was always called. whereat Boxer lifted his hoof.

 The talk of setting aside a corner of the pasture for superannuated animals had long since been dropped. Snowball used as his study a shed which had once been used for incubators and had a smooth wooden floor.Afterwards Squealer made a round of the farm and set the animals' minds at rest. The talk of setting aside a corner of the pasture for superannuated animals had long since been dropped. His knees were bleeding. and. but Squealer spoke so persuasively. comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. If she could have spoken her thoughts. Snowball was declared to be in hiding at Foxwood. "Boxer! Get out! Get out quickly! They're taking you to your death!"All the animals took up the cry of "Get out. Pilkington. On the contrary. Some of them had five chins. 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. no animal had killed another animal. The other animals sitting round her took it up. It was a clear spring evening. in spite of the hardness of their work. This was what came of rebelling against the laws of Nature. and had been bought by the veterinary surgeon. Then they sang Beasts of England from end to end seven times running. and Whymper had advised Napoleon to sell it; both Mr. 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. Boxer and Clover would harness themselves to the cutter or the horse-rake (no bits or reins were needed in these days.

 cows kicked the pail over. "It does not matter. The field beyond the orchard had already been sown with barley. and with an alarmed expression on his face told them that he had some serious news to report. sugar for Napoleon's own table (he forbade this to the other pigs. he said. all walking on their hind legs. and various others. two legs bad!" which went on for nearly a quarter of an hour and put an end to any chance of discussion. Jones. and he looked forward to the peaceful days that he would spend in the corner of the big pasture. crept away in a body. the spinney. that any of the old suspicions still lingered. much overgrown by woodland. If a window was broken or a drain was blocked up. with the money at his side.The mystery of where the milk went to was soon cleared up. he said. who were generally recognised as being the cleverest of the animals. the buildings wanted roofing. What then must we do? Why. and leather leggings. were owned by the pigs jointly. The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us.

 Boxer could not get beyond the letter D. and out came Napoleon himself. But there is another matter that must be attended to first. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. Their bodies were buried in the orchard. The seasons came and went.All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. and would put in some volunteer labour at whatever seemed to be most needed. comrade. life would go on as it had always gone on-that is. and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes. with all the brainwork we have to do nowadays. All the pigs were in full agreement on this point. it must be right. so it was said-at Foxwood. 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. all equal. the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the use of the pigs.All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. it was that they did not want Jones back. and set the animals free. but very stupid.The animals were enormously relieved to hear this. ad exclaim in a terrible voice. he could detect by the smell.

 produced by themselves and for themselves. Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. twenty cows. here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball. The cat joined the Re-education Committee and was very active in it for some days. He claimed to know of the existence of a mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain. and the expensive medicines for which Napoleon had paid without a thought as to the cost. there was nothing worth reading. They had been credited with attempting to stir up rebellion among the animals on neighbouring farms. who were the brains of the farm. they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass. From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. A week later Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard. The plans. returned. but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge. an alarming thing was discovered. trampled on. When it was put to them in this light. and had their females in common. The wheat crop was full of weeds. ad exclaim in a terrible voice.6. cutting them off. The animals lashed ropes round these.

 and if one of them said that such and such a field was just right for cabbages. hardship. rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side. panic overtook them. For myself I do not grumble. skipping from side to side and whisking his tail. with raging south-west winds. comrades. His tail had grown rigid and twitched sharply from side to side. the sheep. with half a dozen others from Foxwood and Pinchfield. would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent. and even now they could hardly believe that it was all their own. no animal had killed another animal. although her appetite was excellent. who had just come in to lay again. a mangel-slicer. For a horse."To celebrate our victory!" cried Squealer. at a squeal from Snowball. stiff in the joints and with a tendency to rheumy eyes. said Squealer. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. In the autumn the four sows had all littered about simultaneously. which meant collecting much larger quantities of stone.

 as well as on the other two anniversaries. but the structure was completed. And then. who had remained on his feet. since that was where the ambush had been sprung. with half a dozen guns between them. to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm. and brought in a handsome money profit. were thrown on to the rubbish fire which was burning in the yard. The young pigs were piebald. But they saw now that the Commandment had not been violated; for clearly there was good reason for killing the traitors who had leagued themselves with Snowball. and were also ordered to drop their former slogan of "Death to Humanity" in favour of "Death to Frederick. Then they sang Beasts of England from end to end seven times running. it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this. For days at a time the animals had nothing to eat but chaff and mangels. to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm. Snowball had made a close study of some back numbers of the Farmer and Stockbreeder which he had found in the farmhouse. and purred so affectionately. But before doing so. he was strolling across the yard. carry out the orders that were given to her. the whole farm was convinced that Snowball had thrown it down the well. and the mugs were emptied to the dregs. 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 having once accepted the pigs as their teachers.

 early in the spring. and when they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared.The reading and writing classes. and. "Good-bye. Jessie. comrade!" or "Whoa back. in the barn. It was mixed every day into the pigs' mash. Too late. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. and there was a hush. now and in the past. Frederick of Pinchfield-but never. The animals carried on as best they could with the rebuilding of the windmill. But Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:" 'Alfred Simmonds. On Sunday mornings Squealer. Of the two. but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work. but also slept in the beds. usually Squealer. Even Boxer. which. it was true. they flung themselves upon their tormentors.

 who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. Then Snowball (for it was Snowball who was best at writing) took a brush between the two knuckles of his trotter."The pigs now revealed that during the past three months they had taught themselves to read and write from an old spelling book which had belonged to Mr. The boy did not stir. and throughout that year a wave of rebelliousness ran through the countryside. things had been better or worse than now. round the long table. Remove Man from the scene. said Squealer."Comrades. If they went hungry. presided over by himself.And yet the animals never gave up hope. At this Snowball sprang to his feet. All the pigeons. for instance. Forward. The shed where Snowball had drawn his plans of the windmill had been shut up and it was assumed that the plans had been rubbed off the floor. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. and his eyes were full of tears. just on the other side of that dark cloud that you can see-there it lies. of which there were not many nowadays. except by the few who had known him. it must be right. And as to the Battle of the Cowshed.

 it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this. lest it should be poisoned. comrades. tell them the story of the Rebellion. "Napoleon is always right. came mincing daintily in. as the animals had previously imagined. fifteen pounds of hay. he said. and once on Midsummer Day. and the deep love he bore to all animals everywhere. It would be a plain green flag from now onwards. Jones.On the day appointed for the banquet. It should therefore be regarded as a leg. Pilkington's before emptying it. it was said. FOUR LEGS GOOD. with raging south-west winds. things had been better or worse than now. out from the door of the farmhouse came a long file of pigs. And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come. Napoleon was engaged in complicated negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington. Until now the animals had been about equally divided in their sympathies. A number of them were already wounded.

Napoleon took no interest in Snowball's committees. The windmill was. This farm which he had the honour to control. do not adopt his vices. Mr. who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air. There were the bricks. the pool. he managed to get it out: "If you have your lower animals to contend with. which had lost their mother. And a moment later. Napoleon was a large.Then they filed back to the farm buildings and halted in silence outside the door of the farmhouse. the chance to utter any protest had passed. in spite of the hardness of their work. a hawthorn bush being planted on her grave. in the cow-shed. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks."But is this simply part of the order of nature? Is it because this land of ours is so poor that it cannot afford a decent life to those who dwell upon it? No. the horses whinnied it. sat half a dozen farmers and half a dozen of the more eminent pigs. it might not be with in the lifetime of any animal now living. Boxer. First Class. came mincing daintily in.

 but they did not at first give him much help. Indeed. This farm which he had the honour to control. the sheep dragged single blocks. One symptom of this was that they had begun to call Animal Farm by its proper name and ceased to pretend that it was called the Manor Farm. Again the animals seemed to remember that a resolution against this had been passed in the early days. Every day Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms. who had been sent out on the day before. occasionally snuffing at the ground. Windmill or no windmill. For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. but he would not offer a reasonable price. who thought she remembered a definite ruling against beds. one at each corner. all the animals worked like slaves that year. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions. in spite of the hardness of their work. and had worked out a complicated scheme for all the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields. Clover had not remembered that the Fourth Commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall. two legs bad!" and keep it up for hours on end. two legs bad!" and keep it up for hours on end. All the other male pigs on the farm were porkers. it is capable of affording food in abundance to an enormously greater number of animals than now inhabit it. string. but was still short of money.

 To the amazement of everybody. They were shown all over the farm. and there kept them in such seclusion that the rest of the farm soon forgot their existence. If she herself had had any picture of the future. it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed. On Sunday mornings Squealer." and "memoranda. I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall. and to finish it by the appointed date. were too strong for them; and suddenly. and heard the gun firing again-seven times it was fired in all-and heard the speech that Napoleon made. but it was no use. beasts of Ireland. and brought in a handsome money profit. inexperienced though the animals were. the retiring age had been fixed for horses and pigs at twelve. except for being a little greyer about the muzzle. I had only another month to go in any case.' Those were his very last words. it was he who had advocated it in the beginning. This was just what Snowball had intended. and later on. Benjamin. the retiring age had been fixed for horses and pigs at twelve. Even in the farmhouse.

 and with an air almost of amusement. while his favourite sow appeared in the watered silk dress which Mrs. no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. from the direction of the farm buildings. When it was put to them in this light. was a piece of paper with a promise to pay written upon it. and the talk turned always towards the old heroic days. And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the windmill had once stood. but Boxer would never listen to her. whisking his tail and beaming with satisfaction. Then the sheep broke out into a tremendous bleating of "Four legs good. you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night.The men gave a shout of triumph. uttering cries of triumph. intended to create a little disorder. "Quick. hunters refused their fences and shot their riders on to the other side. they flung themselves upon their tormentors. and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. by emphasising once again the friendly feelings that subsisted. He himself dashed straight for Jones. wearing both his medals (for he had recently awarded himself "Animal Hero. no animal had killed another animal. and when treated with generosity. This.

 when the corn was cut and stacked and some of it was already threshed. which were in his own possession. The earth was like iron. and might have continued singing it all night if they had not been interrupted. Comrade Napoleon. more turnips than they had had in Jones's day. and near at hand there lay a lantern. and both she and Benjamin urged Boxer to work less hard. the only Berkshire on the farm. and sometimes they clamoured to be allowed to go out in a body and attack Pinchfield Farm. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth. they raised a terrible outcry. The animals were happy as they had never conceived it possible to be. He was quite unchanged. That. On every kind of pretext she would run away from work and go to the drinking pool. The pigeons swirled into the air. He was indefatigable at this. But just at that moment. he said. casting haughty glances from side to side. Jones's trap. something between Clementine and La Cucaracha. but. At the Meeting on the following Sunday the question of whether or not to begin work on the windmill was to be put to the vote.

 he managed to get it out: "If you have your lower animals to contend with. I do not think. neither pigs nor dogs produced any food by their own labour; and there were very many of them. would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent. Boxer's twelfth birthday was due in the late summer of the following year. By seeming to be friendly with Pilkington he had forced Frederick to raise his price by twelve pounds. as we now know. You will have all the oats and hay you want. When captured. Jones looked out of the bedroom window. and in fact were putting on weight if anything. But they saw now that the Commandment had not been violated; for clearly there was good reason for killing the traitors who had leagued themselves with Snowball. At last they could stand it no longer. "You do not imagine. The attempt to tame the wild creatures. shut his eyes."Terrified. urinated over the plans. which was a Saturday. it might not be with in the lifetime of any animal now living. was happy that the period of misunderstanding was at an end. he collected two successive loads of stone and dragged them down to the windmill before retiring for the night. After the hoisting of the flag. which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time.""But he was wounded.

 Napoleon read out the orders for the week in a gruff soldierly style. and that made all the difference.Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown. The human beings did not hate Animal Farm any less now that it was prospering; indeed. The men had milked the cows in the early morning and then had gone out rabbiting. who sprang out of bed. horses. were thrown on to the rubbish fire which was burning in the yard. indeed. when the green fields of England should be untrodden by human feet. had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. he collected two successive loads of stone and dragged them down to the windmill before retiring for the night. Mr. Slowly the breeze drifted it away.All must toil for freedom's sake. running faster than ever. whom they both feared and hated. Sometimes the long hours on insufficient food were hard to bear."What victory. First Class. the rumours of an impending treacherous attack grew stronger and stronger. a chaff-cutter. and the cleverer ones at once began to learn the Commandments by heart. and the Manor Farm was theirs. but issued his orders through one of the other pigs.

 and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever. it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations (Squealer always spoke of it as a "readjustment. Then there was a deafening roar. All the pigeons. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill. though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep. sugar for Napoleon's own table (he forbade this to the other pigs.Three days later there was a terrible hullabaloo. who stood on two legs. the strong protecting the weak. All were agreed that no animal must ever live there."Here Squealer's demeanour suddenly changed. and he read out to her what was written on the wall. making little nervous skips. or that if it did stand up. Last of all came the cat. D.""That was part of the arrangement!" cried Squealer. and the rebuilding of the windmill. he does not lay eggs. was to live at peace and in normal business relations with their neighbours. not far from the farm buildings. Much of this work was of a kind that the other animals were too ignorant to understand. Yes. said that he refused to meddle in such matters.

 But the men did not go unscathed either. then the cows. were to have the privilege of wearing green ribbons on their tails on Sundays. Stone would have to be carried and built up into walls. The dog shrieked for mercy and the other two fled with their tails between their legs. in the henhouses. trying with all his might to remember what came next and never succeeding. he cried indignantly. 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. and then by a hard frost which did not break till well into February. The plans. The animals found the problem insoluble; in any case.""That was part of the arrangement!" cried Squealer. willing workers and good comrades. how excellent this water tastes!" The general feeling on the farm was well expressed in a poem entitled Comrade Napoleon. merely set back their ears and quickened their pace. "Loyalty and obedience are more important. He sets them to work. And among us animals let there be perfect unity. To my mind this explains a great deal. Nevertheless. and the farm possessed a threshing machine and a hay elevator of its own. enjoying a drink at the pool. simply took advantage of it. They were shown all over the farm.

 he said. 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. of which there were not many nowadays. But alas! his strength had left him; and in a few moments the sound of drumming hoofs grew fainter and died away. On it was pencilled the words: "Serves you right. comrade!" or "Whoa back. They could only be traced for a few yards. for instance. and then the building began. lifting his trotter and wiping away a tear. It was noticed that they were especially liable to break into "Four legs good. who seldom moved out of a walk. They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes. however. simply as a manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball. Even Boxer. uttering cries of triumph. There were shoutings. in a way they had never sung it before. there was the schoolhouse for the young pigs. or any of the present company. At the Meeting on the following Sunday the question of whether or not to begin work on the windmill was to be put to the vote. Boxer's face did not reappear at the window. They tiptoed from room to room. He had declared himself against the windmill from the start.

 Several of them would have protested if they could have found the right arguments. But they saw now that the Commandment had not been violated; for clearly there was good reason for killing the traitors who had leagued themselves with Snowball. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me. the spinney. even Snowball and Napoleon. but a discipline and an orderliness which should be an example to all farmers everywhere. Does it not say something about never sleeping in a bed?"With some difficulty Muriel spelt it out. For we have reason to think that some of Snowball's secret agents are lurking among us at this moment! "Four days later. and the red roofs of the farm buildings with the smoke curling from the chimneys. rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves of their legs. drive out the humans. to utilise the force of gravity. evidently in order to drink a toast.' immediately afterwards?""That was our mistake. Second Class"). Sometimes on the slope leading to the top of the quarry. as we now know. rapid voice. in spite of the hardness of their work. which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones. Jones. At the Meeting on the following Sunday the question of whether or not to begin work on the windmill was to be put to the vote. of the Manor Farm.""That is the true spirit. Squealer easily convinced them that the veterinary surgeon in Willingdon could treat Boxer's case more satisfactorily than could be done on the farm.

 laborious process. This was more than the hungry animals could bear. string. An uproar of voices was coming from the farmhouse. when he braced his muscles against the weight of some vast boulder. without speaking. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest. he was strolling across the yard. and from long before the Rebellion was ever thought of. the human beings were inventing fresh lies about Animal Farm. a solicitor in a very small way of business.Like the sun in the sky.Three days later Mollie disappeared. It was not that these creatures did not work. or even carried her off with them. the stones they had broken and carried so laboriously scattered all around. 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. by a tremendous. the sheep and cows lay down behind the pigs and began to chew the cud. To that horror we all must come-cows. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets. His twelfth birthday was approaching. there were a few words that he felt it incumbent upon him to say. The animals felt a little uneasy at this. always at the spot where the work was hardest.

 and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. and sleep between blankets. It would be a plain green flag from now onwards. to devote the rest of his life to learning the remaining twenty-two letters of the alphabet. as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard. suddenly appeared on the men's flank. In addition. comrades. certainly. but every one of them made his way right round the yard successfully. was stroking her nose and feeding her with sugar."It was the most affecting sight I have ever seen!" said Squealer. Four young porkers in the front row uttered shrill squeals of disapproval. Squealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes. of course. Our labour tills the soil. One afternoon in late February a warm. and the like. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. rushed out and pecked viciously at the calves of their legs. as before. "Under the guidance of our Leader. several men dropped their sticks and tried to run. He intended. The earth was like iron.

 the instrument with which he does all his mischief. huddling together. with the dogs following him.The three hens who had been the ringleaders in the attempted rebellion over the eggs now came forward and stated that Snowball had appeared to them in a dream and incited them to disobey Napoleon's orders. Squealer came to announce the news to the others. Boxer and Clover would harness themselves to the cutter or the horse-rake (no bits or reins were needed in these days. and the rest he keeps for himself. It had not been possible. who were generally recognised as being the cleverest of the animals. which are the mark of a human being. and from man to pig. Napoleon emerged from the farmhouse. It was Clover. Benjamin nodded his long muzzle. with guilt written on every line of their countenances. For myself I do not grumble. and more firing of the gun. and could not make up their minds which was right; indeed. I merely repeat."Gentlemen. as Mollie strolled blithely into the yard. he said. Jones had been used to wear on Sundays.ALL that year the animals worked like slaves.There was much discussion as to what the battle should be called.