they met with much stupidity and apathy.

 and a whole flock of geese and hens-everyone
 and a whole flock of geese and hens-everyone. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk at which many of the animals looked with considerable interest. in the vegetable garden. and Pincher. for the harvest was an even bigger success than they had hoped."What is going to happen to all that milk?" said someone. But Boxer would not listen. There was no thought of rebellion or disobedience in her mind. with the white stripe down his nose. and in August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well. with walls twice as thick as before. He announced that from now on the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end. They were glad to believe so. In the evening he returned to the farmhouse himself. but in comparison with the days of Jones. He believed that he was right in saying that the lower animals on Animal Farm did more work and received less food than any animals in the county.

 However. One afternoon in late February a warm. Pilkington's men was standing on the other side of the hedge. Only Boxer remained on his feet. and then the pigs. Do you know what the real reason was? Snowball was in league with Jones from the very start! He was Jones's secret agent all the time. they hated it more than ever. with two dogs to wait upon him. The dog shrieked for mercy and the other two fled with their tails between their legs. but every one of them made his way right round the yard successfully. Much of this work was of a kind that the other animals were too ignorant to understand. at a different spot every day. First Class. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light. which was the signal for retreat. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of different colours.

 and the men easily drove the geese off with their sticks. Tomorrow Frederick's wagons would arrive and begin carting it away. and avoided him as much as possible. all equal. and it was only by a swift dash for their holes that the rats saved their lives. then they capitulated and went back to their nesting boxes. shook his forelock several times. the expulsion of Jones. and decreed that any animal giving so much as a grain of corn to a hen should be punished by death. frightened them almost out of their wits. there was more for everyone to eat. who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Mollie?""He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie. Starvation seemed to stare them in the face.' and half a bushel of apples to any animal who brings him to justice. were also said to be in league with Snowball.

 who was marching ahead with a gun in his hands. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. and made it a point of honour not to let it be seen that he was in pain. But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon's strategy." In the late summer yet another of Snowball's machinations was laid bare. the short animal lives fled by. 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. who were generally recognised as being the cleverest of the animals. clever or simple. there were a few words that he felt it incumbent upon him to say. The title-deeds. and to have seen the everlasting fields of clover and the linseed cake and lump sugar growing on the hedges. he added. But just at that moment. were all flung down the well. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill.

 And then. Snowball launched his first attack. "It does not matter. raised his gun and fired. Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw. which were in his own possession. its climate is good. They could only be traced for a few yards. On the whole. comrades. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go. not even human life. These two had great difficulty in thinking anything out for themselves.MR. Boxer would even come out at nights and work for an hour or two on his own by the light of the harvest moon. which was the signal for retreat.

 There was only one candidate. She took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill. First Class. they said. such as the sheep. and they went outside. Much of this work was of a kind that the other animals were too ignorant to understand. which was called Pinchfield. throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above all. flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse. In return for your four confinements and all your labour in the fields. "Under the guidance of our Leader. and his eyes were full of tears. They saw that they were in danger of being surrounded. presided over by himself.

 No question. and then the pigs. he trampled the seedbeds. But just at that moment. She appeared to be enjoying herself. simply took advantage of it. to the number of thirty-five. But doubtless it had been worse in the old days. and announced that the mill would be named Napoleon Mill. all walking on their hind legs. Even when you have conquered him. They continued to behave very much as before. since that was where the ambush had been sprung. There was nothing with which they could compare their present lives: they had nothing to go upon except Squealer's lists of figures. Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. for the pigs and the dogs.

 The animals found the problem insoluble; in any case. as Benjamin is growing old too. there were a few words that he felt it incumbent upon him to say.So Beasts of England was heard no more. it was said. he said. through Whymper. sheep. kicked. Whatever goes upon four legs. he was with difficulty got on to his feet. reading the newspapers.A thought struck Clover. B. the green flag which flew from the masthead. they held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others.

On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion. comrades. The other animals understood how to vote. The animals believed every word of it. much overgrown by woodland. whisking his tail and beaming with satisfaction. At the graveside Snowball made a little speech. various unforeseen shortages began to make them selves felt. Nevertheless. he said. And sure enough. The human beings could not contain their rage when they heard this song. When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either of them made. It had been overlooked at the time when the house was first occupied. They found it comforting to be reminded that.

 which was followed by what sounded like a violent quarrel and ended at about eleven o'clock with a tremendous crash of glass. how my soul is onFire when I gaze at thyCalm and commanding eye. That was theirs too. even Snowball and Napoleon. and were at pains not to tread on the chalk marks. Napoleon. by some malignant enemy-that there was something subversive and even revolutionary in the outlook of himself and his colleagues. 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.Riches more than mind can picture." but there were two words that they had forgotten. and all the sheep. almost before they knew what was happening. but they did not at first give him much help. In desperation the animals began appealing to the two horses which drew the van to stop." said Snowball. give several deep sniffs.

 the pigeons cooed it in the elms. Boxer's face. The truest happiness. There. Comrades. with Squealer and another pig named Minimus. he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard. In a moment. argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production. they were huge dogs. but it had long since passed out of my mind. Major continued:"I have little more to say. Their struggles and their difficulties were one. Snowball and Napoleon were by far the most active in the debates. The dogs flanked the procession and at the head of all marched Napoleon's black cockerel. and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments.

 I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall. The flag was run up and Beasts of England was sung a number of times. three sheep. then the sails would have to be made and after that there would be need for dynamos and cables. However. His twelfth birthday was approaching. which meant collecting much larger quantities of stone. I do not think. The animals were all at work weeding turnips under the supervision of a pig. Snowball was forgotten."Frightened though they were.' and half a bushel of apples to any animal who brings him to justice.Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; then he uttered a high-pitched whimper."What is that gun firing for?" said Boxer. A little awkwardly. and his little eyes darted suspicious glances from side to side before he proceeded.

 At heart. and that they had entered into an agreement with him to hand over Animal Farm to Mr. which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time.At last. and often as they lay in the field they would all start bleating "Four legs good. that the windmill would be a failure. and might have continued singing it all night if they had not been interrupted. As yet no animal had actually retired on pension." which went on for several minutes and put an end to the discussion. the Order of the Green Banner.Meanwhile life was hard. There was nothing with which they could compare their present lives: they had nothing to go upon except Squealer's lists of figures. Frequently it took a whole day of exhausting effort to drag a single boulder to the top of the quarry. and yet they allowed him to remain on the farm. Sometimes on the slope leading to the top of the quarry.For the first few minutes the animals could hardly believe in their good fortune.

 "Do you not see what they are doing? In another moment they are going to pack blasting powder into that hole. "Loyalty and obedience are more important. "That will be attended to. however. The wheat crop was full of weeds. then the sheep. beans.""But he was wounded. for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you. The men fired again and again. So that. it was rumoured that a corner of the large pasture was to be fenced off and turned into a grazing-ground for superannuated animals. uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. simply took advantage of it. You would not rob us of our repose.

 and the contract for eggs was increased to six hundred a week. He looked round. He was quite unchanged. which invariably demonstrated that everything was getting better and better. "is an organ of propulsion and not of manipulation. he would go alone to the quarry. They all remembered. Frederick and Pilkington said. The winter was as cold as the last one had been. There was also "Animal Hero. especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. But it was some minutes before they could fully take it in. the object of which was to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of Animal Farm. body and soul. wearing an old bowler hat of Mr. who had not yet painted the old name out.

 First Class. however. He stole the corn. on the other hand. had already recovered and made off. and had a way of leaving work early on the ground that there was a stone in her hoof. you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night. They were glad to believe so. Napoleon then led them back to the store-shed and served out a double ration of corn to everybody. Sure enough. as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet. harrows. comrades. Frederick of Pinchfield-but never. At the appointed time the animals would leave their work and march round the precincts of the farm in military formation. At the beginning they met with much stupidity and apathy.