Скотний двір

           Frederick,itwassaid,intendedtobringagainstthemtwentymenallarmedwithguns,andhehadalreadybribedthemagistratesandpolice,sothatifhecouldoncegetholdofthetitle-deedsofAnimalFarmtheywouldasknoquestions. Moreover,terriblestorieswereleakingoutfromPinchfieldaboutthecrueltiesthatFrederickpractiseduponhisanimals. Hehadfloggedanoldhorsetodeath,hestarvedhiscows,hehadkilledadogbythrowingitintothefurnace,heamusedhimselfintheeveningsbymakingcocksfightwithsplintersofrazor-bladetiedtotheirspurs. Theanimals’bloodboiledwithragewhentheyheardofthesethingsbeingdonetotheircomrades,andsometimestheyclamouredtobeallowedtogooutinabodyandattackPinchfieldFarm,driveoutthehumans,andsettheanimalsfree. ButSquealercounselledthemtoavoidrashactionsandtrustinComradeNapoleon’sstrategy. 

           Nevertheless,feelingagainstFrederickcontinuedtorunhigh. OneSundaymorningNapoleonappearedinthebarnandexplainedthathehadneveratanytimecontemplatedsellingthepileoftimbertoFrederick;heconsidereditbeneathhisdignity,hesaid,tohavedealingswithscoundrelsofthatdescription. ThepigeonswhowerestillsentouttospreadtidingsoftheRebellionwereforbiddentosetfootanywhereonFoxwood,andwerealsoorderedtodroptheirformersloganof"DeathtoHumanity"infavourof"DeathtoFrederick." InthelatesummeryetanotherofSnowball’smachinationswaslaidbare. Thewheatcropwasfullofweeds,anditwasdiscoveredthatononeofhisnocturnalvisitsSnowballhadmixedweedseedswiththeseedcorn. AganderwhohadbeenprivytotheplothadconfessedhisguilttoSquealerandimmediatelycommittedsuicidebyswallowingdeadlynightshadeberries. TheanimalsnowalsolearnedthatSnowballhadnever—asmanyofthemhadbelievedhitherto—receivedtheorderof"AnimalHero,FirstClass."