Скотный двор
Chapter 2
Thiswasmorethanthehungryanimalscouldbear. Withoneaccord,thoughnothingofthekindhadbeenplannedbeforehand,theyflungthemselvesupontheirtormentors. Jonesandhismensuddenlyfoundthemselvesbeingbuttedandkickedfromallsides. Thesituationwasquiteoutoftheircontrol. Theyhadneverseenanimalsbehavelikethisbefore,andthissuddenuprisingofcreatureswhomtheywereusedtothrashingandmaltreatingjustastheychose,frightenedthemalmostoutoftheirwits. Afteronlyamomentortwotheygaveuptryingtodefendthemselvesandtooktotheirheels. Aminutelaterallfiveofthemwereinfullflightdownthecart-trackthatledtothemainroad,withtheanimalspursuingthemintriumph.
Mrs.Joneslookedoutofthebedroomwindow,sawwhatwashappening,hurriedlyflungafewpossessionsintoacarpetbag,andslippedoutofthefarmbyanotherway. Mosessprangoffhisperchandflappedafterher,croakingloudly. MeanwhiletheanimalshadchasedJonesandhismenoutontotheroadandslammedthefive-barredgatebehindthem. Andso,almostbeforetheyknewwhatwashappening,theRebellionhadbeensuccessfullycarriedthrough: Joneswasexpelled,andtheManorFarmwastheirs.
Forthefirstfewminutestheanimalscouldhardlybelieveintheirgoodfortune. Theirfirstactwastogallopinabodyrightroundtheboundariesofthefarm,asthoughtomakequitesurethatnohumanbeingwashidinganywhereuponit;thentheyracedbacktothefarmbuildingstowipeoutthelasttracesofJones’shatedreign. Theharness-roomattheendofthestableswasbrokenopen;thebits,thenose-rings,thedog-chains,thecruelkniveswithwhichMr.Joneshadbeenusedtocastratethepigsandlambs,wereallflungdownthewell. Thereins,thehalters,theblinkers,thedegradingnosebags,werethrownontotherubbishfirewhichwasburningintheyard. Sowerethewhips.
