Скотний двір
Chapter 4
Themengaveashoutoftriumph. Theysaw,astheyimagined,theirenemiesinflight,andtheyrushedafterthemindisorder. ThiswasjustwhatSnowballhadintended. Assoonastheywerewellinsidetheyard,thethreehorses,thethreecows,andtherestofthepigs,whohadbeenlyinginambushinthecowshed,suddenlyemergedintheirrear,cuttingthemoff. Snowballnowgavethesignalforthecharge. HehimselfdashedstraightforJones. Jonessawhimcoming,raisedhisgunandfired. ThepelletsscoredbloodystreaksalongSnowball’sback,andasheepdroppeddead. Withouthaltingforaninstant,SnowballflunghisfifteenstoneagainstJones’slegs. Joneswashurledintoapileofdungandhisgunflewoutofhishands. ButthemostterrifyingspectacleofallwasBoxer,rearinguponhishindlegsandstrikingoutwithhisgreatiron-shodhoofslikeastallion. Hisveryfirstblowtookastable-ladfromFoxwoodontheskullandstretchedhimlifelessinthemud. Atthesight,severalmendroppedtheirsticksandtriedtorun. Panicovertookthem,andthenextmomentalltheanimalstogetherwerechasingthemroundandroundtheyard. Theyweregored,kicked,bitten,trampledon. Therewasnotananimalonthefarmthatdidnottakevengeanceonthemafterhisownfashion. Eventhecatsuddenlyleaptoffaroofontoacowman’sshouldersandsankherclawsinhisneck,atwhichheyelledhorribly. Atamomentwhentheopeningwasclear,themenweregladenoughtorushoutoftheyardandmakeaboltforthemainroad. Andsowithinfiveminutesoftheirinvasiontheywereinignominiousretreatbythesamewayastheyhadcome,withaflockofgeesehissingafterthemandpeckingattheircalvesalltheway.
Allthemenweregoneexceptone. BackintheyardBoxerwaspawingwithhishoofatthestable-ladwholayfacedowninthemud,tryingtoturnhimover.Theboydidnotstir.
