Скотный двор

           "Itismylung,"saidBoxerinaweakvoice. "Itdoesnotmatter.Ithinkyouwillbeabletofinishthewindmillwithoutme. Thereisaprettygoodstoreofstoneaccumulated. Ihadonlyanothermonthtogoinanycase. Totellyouthetruth,Ihadbeenlookingforwardtomyretirement. Andperhaps,asBenjaminisgrowingoldtoo,theywilllethimretireatthesametimeandbeacompaniontome." 

           "Wemustgethelpatonce,"saidClover."Run,somebody,andtellSquealerwhathashappened." 

           AlltheotheranimalsimmediatelyracedbacktothefarmhousetogiveSquealerthenews. OnlyCloverremained,andBenjaminwholaydownatBoxer’sside,and,withoutspeaking,keptthefliesoffhimwithhislongtail. AfteraboutaquarterofanhourSquealerappeared,fullofsympathyandconcern. HesaidthatComradeNapoleonhadlearnedwiththeverydeepestdistressofthismisfortunetooneofthemostloyalworkersonthefarm,andwasalreadymakingarrangementstosendBoxertobetreatedinthehospitalatWillingdon. Theanimalsfeltalittleuneasyatthis. ExceptforMollieandSnowball,nootheranimalhadeverleftthefarm,andtheydidnotliketothinkoftheirsickcomradeinthehandsofhumanbeings. However,SquealereasilyconvincedthemthattheveterinarysurgeoninWillingdoncouldtreatBoxer’scasemoresatisfactorilythancouldbedoneonthefarm. Andabouthalfanhourlater,whenBoxerhadsomewhatrecovered,hewaswithdifficultygotontohisfeet,andmanagedtolimpbacktohisstall,whereCloverandBenjaminhadpreparedagoodbedofstrawforhim. 

           ForthenexttwodaysBoxerremainedinhisstall. Thepigshadsentoutalargebottleofpinkmedicinewhichtheyhadfoundinthemedicinechestinthebathroom,andCloveradministeredittoBoxertwiceadayaftermeals. Intheeveningsshelayinhisstallandtalkedtohim,whileBenjaminkeptthefliesoffhim.