Скотный двор

           Whenthehensheardthis,theyraisedaterribleoutcry. Theyhadbeenwarnedearlierthatthissacrificemightbenecessary,buthadnotbelievedthatitwouldreallyhappen. Theywerejustgettingtheirclutchesreadyforthespringsitting,andtheyprotestedthattotaketheeggsawaynowwasmurder. ForthefirsttimesincetheexpulsionofJones,therewassomethingresemblingarebellion. LedbythreeyoungBlackMinorcapullets,thehensmadeadeterminedefforttothwartNapoleon’swishes. Theirmethodwastoflyuptotheraftersandtherelaytheireggs,whichsmashedtopiecesonthefloor. Napoleonactedswiftlyandruthlessly. Heorderedthehens’rationstobestopped,anddecreedthatanyanimalgivingsomuchasagrainofcorntoahenshouldbepunishedbydeath. Thedogssawtoitthattheseorderswerecarriedout. Forfivedaysthehensheldout,thentheycapitulatedandwentbacktotheirnestingboxes. Ninehenshaddiedinthemeantime. Theirbodieswereburiedintheorchard,anditwasgivenoutthattheyhaddiedofcoccidiosis. Whymperheardnothingofthisaffair,andtheeggsweredulydelivered,agrocer’svandrivinguptothefarmonceaweektotakethemaway. 

           AllthiswhilenomorehadbeenseenofSnowball. Hewasrumouredtobehidingononeoftheneighbouringfarms,eitherFoxwoodorPinchfield. Napoleonwasbythistimeonslightlybettertermswiththeotherfarmersthanbefore. Ithappenedthattherewasintheyardapileoftimberwhichhadbeenstackedtheretenyearsearlierwhenabeechspinneywascleared. Itwaswellseasoned,andWhymperhadadvisedNapoleontosellit; bothMr.PilkingtonandMr.Frederickwereanxioustobuyit. Napoleonwashesitatingbetweenthetwo,unabletomakeuphismind. ItwasnoticedthatwheneverheseemedonthepointofcomingtoanagreementwithFrederick,SnowballwasdeclaredtobeinhidingatFoxwood,while,whenheinclinedtowardPilkington,SnowballwassaidtobeatPinchfield.