1A few days later, when the terror caused by the executions had died down, some of the animals remembered–or thought they remembered–that the Sixth Commandment decreed "No animal shall kill any other animal." 2And though no one cared to mention it in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs, it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this. 3Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment, and when Benjamin, as usual, said that he refused to meddle in such matters, she fetched Muriel. 4Muriel read the Commandment for her. 5It ran: "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause." 6Somehow or other, the last two words had slipped out of the animals' memory. 7But 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.
8Throughout the year the animals worked even harder than they had worked in the previous year To rebuild the windmill, with walls twice as thick as before, and to finish it by the appointed date, together with the regular work of the farm, was a tremendous labour. 9There 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. 10On Sunday mornings Squealer, holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter, would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent, three hundred per cent, or five hundred per cent, as the case might be. 11The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him, especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. 12All the same, there were days when they felt that they would sooner have had less figures and more food.
13All orders were now issued through Squealer or one of the other pigs. 14Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. 15When he did appear, 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, letting out a loud "cock-a-doodle-doo" before Napoleon spoke. 16Even in the farmhouse, it was said, Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. 17He took his meals alone, with two dogs to wait upon him, and always ate from the Crown Derby dinner service which had been in the glass cupboard in the drawing-room. 18It was also announced that the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon's birthday, as well as on the other two anniversaries.
19Napoleon was now never spoken of simply as "Napoleon." 20He was always referred to in formal style as "our Leader, Comrade Napoleon," and the pigs liked to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals, Terror of Mankind, Protector of the Sheep-fold, Ducklings' Friend, and the like. 21In his speeches, Squealer would talk with the tears rolling down his cheeks of Napoleon's wisdom, the goodness of his heart, and the deep love he bore to all animals everywhere, even and especially the unhappy animals who still lived in ignorance and slavery on other farms. 22It had become usual to give Napoleon the credit for every successful achievement and every stroke of good fortune. 23You would often hear one hen remark to another, "Under the guidance of our Leader, Comrade Napoleon, I have laid five eggs in six days"; or two cows, enjoying a drink at the pool, would exclaim, "Thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon, how excellent this water tastes!" 24The general feeling on the farm was well expressed in a poem entitled Comrade Napoleon, which was composed by Minimus and which ran as follows:
25Friend of fatherless!
26Fountain of happiness!
27Lord of the swill-bucket!
28Oh, how my soul is on
29Fire when I gaze at thy
30Calm and commanding eye,
31Like the sun in the sky,
32Comrade Napoleon!
33Thou are the giver of
34All that thy creatures love,
35Full belly twice a day, clean straw to roll upon;
36Every beast great or small
37Sleeps at peace in his stall,
38Thou watchest over all,
39Comrade Napoleon!
40Had I a sucking-pig,
41Ere he had grown as big
42Even as a pint bottle or as a rolling-pin,
43He should have learned to be
44Faithful and true to thee,
45Yes, his first squeak should be "Comrade Napoleon!"
46Napoleon approved of this poem and caused it to be inscribed on the wall of the big barn, at the opposite end from the Seven Commandments. 47It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon, in profile, executed by Squealer in white paint.
48Meanwhile, through the agency of Whymper, Napoleon was engaged in complicated negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington. 49The pile of timber was still unsold. 50Of the two, Frederick was the more anxious to get hold of it, but he would not offer a reasonable price. 51At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill, the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. 52Snowball was known to be still skulking on Pinchfield Farm. 53In the middle of the summer the animals were alarmed to hear that three hens had come forward and confessed that, inspired by Snowball, they had entered into a plot to murder Napoleon. 54They were executed immediately, and fresh precautions for Napoleon's safety were taken. 55Four dogs guarded his bed at night, one at each corner, and a young pig named Pinkeye was given the task of tasting all his food before he ate it, lest it should be poisoned.
56At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood. 57The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington, though they were only conducted through Whymper, were now almost friendly. 58The animals distrusted Pilkington, as a human being, but greatly preferred him to Frederick, whom they both feared and hated. 59As the summer wore on, and the windmill neared completion, the rumours of an impending treacherous attack grew stronger and stronger. 60Frederick, it was said, intended to bring against them twenty men all armed with guns, and he had already bribed the magistrates and police, so that if he could once get hold of the title-deeds of Animal Farm they would ask no questions. 61Moreover, terrible stories were leaking out from Pinchfield about the cruelties that Frederick practised upon his animals. 62He had flogged an old horse to death, he starved his cows, he had killed a dog by throwing it into the furnace, he amused himself in the evenings by making cocks fight with splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs. 63The animals' blood boiled with rage when they heard of these things being done to their comrades, and sometimes they clamoured to be allowed to go out in a body and attack Pinchfield Farm, drive out the humans, and set the animals free. 64But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon's strategy.
65Nevertheless, feeling against Frederick continued to run high. 66One 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, he said, to have dealings with scoundrels of that description. 67The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood, and were also ordered to drop their former slogan of "Death to Humanity" in favour of "Death to Frederick." 68In the late summer yet another of Snowball's machinations was laid bare. 69The wheat crop was full of weeds, and it was discovered that on one of his nocturnal visits Snowball had mixed weed seeds with the seed corn. 70A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. 71The animals now also learned that Snowball had never–as many of them had believed hitherto–received the order of "Animal Hero, First Class." 72This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. 73So far from being decorated, he had been censured for showing cowardice in the battle. 74Once again some of the animals heard this with a certain bewilderment, but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault.
75In the autumn, by a tremendous, exhausting effort–for the harvest had to be gathered at almost the same time–the windmill was finished. 76The machinery had still to be installed, and Whymper was negotiating the purchase of it, but the structure was completed. 77In the teeth of every difficulty, in spite of inexperience, of primitive implements, of bad luck and of Snowball's treachery, the work had been finished punctually to the very day! 78Tired out but proud, the animals walked round and round their masterpiece, which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time. 79Moreover, the walls were twice as thick as before. 80Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! 81And when they thought of how they had laboured, what discouragements they had overcome, 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, their tiredness forsook them and they gambolled round and round the windmill, uttering cries of triumph. 82Napoleon himself, attended by his dogs and his cockerel, came down to inspect the completed work; he personally congratulated the animals on their achievement, and announced that the mill would be named Napoleon Mill.
83Two days later the animals were called together for a special meeting in the barn. 84They were struck dumb with surprise when Napoleon announced that he had sold the pile of timber to Frederick. 85Tomorrow Frederick's wagons would arrive and begin carting it away. 86Throughout the whole period of his seeming friendship with Pilkington, Napoleon had really been in secret agreement with Frederick.
87All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. 88The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from "Death to Frederick" to "Death to Pilkington." 89At the same time Napoleon assured the animals that the stories of an impending attack on Animal Farm were completely untrue, and that the tales about Frederick's cruelty to his own animals had been greatly exaggerated. 90All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. 91It now appeared that Snowball was not, after all, hiding on Pinchfield Farm, and in fact had never been there in his life: he was living–in considerable luxury, so it was said–at Foxwood, and had in reality been a pensioner of Pilkington for years past.
92The pigs were in ecstasies over Napoleon's cunning. 93By seeming to be friendly with Pilkington he had forced Frederick to raise his price by twelve pounds. 94But the superior quality of Napoleon's mind, said Squealer, was shown in the fact that he trusted nobody, not even Frederick. 95Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque, which, it seemed, was a piece of paper with a promise to pay written upon it. 96But Napoleon was too clever for him. 97He had demanded payment in real five-pound notes, which were to be handed over before the timber was removed. 98Already Frederick had paid up; and the sum he had paid was just enough to buy the machinery for the windmill.
99Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. 100When it was all gone, another special meeting was held in the barn for the animals to inspect Frederick's bank-notes. 101Smiling beatifically, and wearing both his decorations, Napoleon reposed on a bed of straw on the platform, with the money at his side, neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. 102The animals filed slowly past, and each gazed his fill. 103And Boxer put out his nose to sniff at the bank-notes, and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath.
104Three days later there was a terrible hullabaloo. 105Whymper, his face deadly pale, came racing up the path on his bicycle, flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse. 106The next moment a choking roar of rage sounded from Napoleon's apartments. 107The news of what had happened sped round the farm like wildfire. 108The banknotes were forgeries! 109Frederick had got the timber for nothing!
110Napoleon called the animals together immediately and in a terrible voice pronounced the death sentence upon Frederick. 111When captured, he said, Frederick should be boiled alive. 112At the same time he warned them that after this treacherous deed the worst was to be expected. 113Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment. 114Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. 115In addition, four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message, which it was hoped might re-establish good relations with Pilkington.
116The very next morning the attack came. 117The animals were at breakfast when the look-outs came racing in with the news that Frederick and his followers had already come through the five-barred gate. 118Boldly enough the animals sallied forth to meet them, but this time they did not have the easy victory that they had had in the Battle of the Cowshed. 119There were fifteen men, with half a dozen guns between them, and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. 120The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets, and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them, they were soon driven back. 121A number of them were already wounded. 122They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes. 123The whole of the big pasture, including the windmill, was in the hands of the enemy. 124For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. 125He paced up and down without a word, his tail rigid and twitching. 126Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood. 127If Pilkington and his men would help them, the day might yet be won. 128But at this moment the four pigeons, who had been sent out on the day before, returned, one of them bearing a scrap of paper from Pilkington. 129On it was pencilled the words: "Serves you right."
130Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted about the windmill. 131The animals watched them, and a murmur of dismay went round. 132Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer. 133They were going to knock the windmill down.
134"Impossible!" cried Napoleon. 135"We have built the walls far too thick for that. 136They could not knock it down in a week. 137Courage, comrades!"
138But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. 139The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. 140Slowly, and with an air almost of amusement, Benjamin nodded his long muzzle.
141"I thought so," he said. 142"Do you not see what they are doing? 143In another moment they are going to pack blasting powder into that hole."
144Terrified, the animals waited. 145It was impossible now to venture out of the shelter of the buildings. 146After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. 147Then there was a deafening roar. 148The pigeons swirled into the air, and all the animals, except Napoleon, flung themselves flat on their bellies and hid their faces. 149When they got up again, a huge cloud of black smoke was hanging where the windmill had been. 150Slowly the breeze drifted it away. 151The windmill had ceased to exist!
152At this sight the animals' courage returned to them. 153The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile, contemptible act. 154A mighty cry for vengeance went up, and without waiting for further orders they charged forth in a body and made straight for the enemy. 155This time they did not heed the cruel pellets that swept over them like hail. 156It was a savage, bitter battle. 157The men fired again and again, and, when the animals got to close quarters, lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. 158A cow, three sheep, and two geese were killed, and nearly everyone was wounded. 159Even Napoleon, who was directing operations from the rear, had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. 160But the men did not go unscathed either. 161Three of them had their heads broken by blows from Boxer's hoofs; another was gored in the belly by a cow's horn; another had his trousers nearly torn off by Jessie and Bluebell. 162And when the nine dogs of Napoleon's own bodyguard, whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge, suddenly appeared on the men's flank, baying ferociously, panic overtook them. 163They saw that they were in danger of being surrounded. 164Frederick shouted to his men to get out while the going was good, and the next moment the cowardly enemy was running for dear life. 165The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field, and got in some last kicks at them as they forced their way through the thorn hedge.
166They had won, but they were weary and bleeding. 167Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. 168The sight of their dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears. 169And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the windmill had once stood. 170Yes, it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! 171Even the foundations were partially destroyed. 172And in rebuilding it they could not this time, as before, make use of the fallen stones. 173This time the stones had vanished too. 174The force of the explosion had flung them to distances of hundreds of yards. 175It was as though the windmill had never been.
176As they approached the farm Squealer, who had unaccountably been absent during the fighting, came skipping towards them, whisking his tail and beaming with satisfaction. 177And the animals heard, from the direction of the farm buildings, the solemn booming of a gun.
178"What is that gun firing for?" said Boxer.
179"To celebrate our victory!" cried Squealer.
180"What victory?" said Boxer. 181His knees were bleeding, he had lost a shoe and split his hoof, and a dozen pellets had lodged themselves in his hind leg.
182"What victory, comrade? 183Have we not driven the enemy off our soil–the sacred soil of Animal Farm?"
184"But they have destroyed the windmill. 185And we had worked on it for two years!"
186"What matter? 187We will build another windmill. 188We will build six windmills if we feel like it. 189You do not appreciate, comrade, the mighty thing that we have done. 190The enemy was in occupation of this very ground that we stand upon. 191And now–thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon–we have won every inch of it back again!"
192"Then we have won back what we had before," said Boxer.
193"That is our victory," said Squealer.
194They limped into the yard. 195The pellets under the skin of Boxer's leg smarted painfully. 196He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations, and already in imagination he braced himself for the task. 197But for the first time it occurred to him that he was eleven years old and that perhaps his great muscles were not quite what they had once been.
198But when the animals saw the green flag flying, and heard the gun firing again–seven times it was fired in all–and heard the speech that Napoleon made, congratulating them on their conduct, it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory. 199The animals slain in the battle were given a solemn funeral. 200Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse, and Napoleon himself walked at the head of the procession. 201Two whole days were given over to celebrations. 202There were songs, speeches, and more firing of the gun, and a special gift of an apple was bestowed on every animal, with two ounces of corn for each bird and three biscuits for each dog. 203It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill, and that Napoleon had created a new decoration, the Order of the Green Banner, which he had conferred upon himself. 204In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the banknotes was forgotten.
205It was a few days later than this that the pigs came upon a case of whisky in the cellars of the farmhouse. 206It had been overlooked at the time when the house was first occupied. 207That night there came from the farmhouse the sound of loud singing, in which, to everyone's surprise, the strains of Beasts of England were mixed up. 208At about half past nine Napoleon, wearing an old bowler hat of Mr. Jones's, was distinctly seen to emerge from the back door, gallop rapidly round the yard, and disappear indoors again. 209But in the morning a deep silence hung over the farmhouse. 210Not a pig appeared to be stirring. 211It was nearly nine o'clock when Squealer made his appearance, walking slowly and dejectedly, his eyes dull, his tail hanging limply behind him, and with every appearance of being seriously ill. 212He called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart. 213Comrade Napoleon was dying!
214A cry of lamentation went up. 215Straw was laid down outside the doors of the farmhouse, and the animals walked on tiptoe. 216With tears in their eyes they asked one another what they should do if their Leader were taken away from them. 217A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon's food. 218At eleven o'clock Squealer came out to make another announcement. 219As his last act upon earth, Comrade Napoleon had pronounced a solemn decree: the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death.
220By the evening, however, Napoleon appeared to be somewhat better, and the following morning Squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery. 221By the evening of that day Napoleon was back at work, and on the next day it was learned that he had instructed Whymper to purchase in Willingdon some booklets on brewing and distilling. 222A week later Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard, which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work, was to be ploughed up. 223It was given out that the pasture was exhausted and needed re-seeding; but it soon became known that Napoleon intended to sow it with barley.
224About this time there occurred a strange incident which hardly anyone was able to understand. 225One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard, and the animals rushed out of their stalls. 226It was a moonlit night. 227At the foot of the end wall of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written, there lay a ladder broken in two pieces. 228Squealer, temporarily stunned, was sprawling beside it, and near at hand there lay a lantern, a paint-brush, and an overturned pot of white paint. 229The dogs immediately made a ring round Squealer, and escorted him back to the farmhouse as soon as he was able to walk. 230None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant, except old Benjamin, who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air, and seemed to understand, but would say nothing.
231But a few days later Muriel, reading over the Seven Commandments to herself, noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong. 232They had thought the Fifth Commandment was "No animal shall drink alcohol," but there were two words that they had forgotten. 233Actually the Commandment read: "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess."