Скотный двор / Animal Farm

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But at this moment the three cows, who seemed uneasy, began to moo. They were not milked for twenty-four hours, and their udders were almost bursting. After a little thought, the pigs sent for buckets and milked the cows successfully. Their trotters were well adapted to this task. Soon there were five buckets of frothing creamy milk. Many of the animals looked at the buckets with considerable interest.

В«What will happen to that milk?В» said someone.

В«Jones sometimes mixed some of it in our mash,В» said one of the hens.

«Never mind the milk, comrades!» cried Napoleon, placing himself in front of the buckets. «That will be attended to[14 - That will be attended to. – О нём позаботятся.]. The harvest is more important. Comrade Snowball will lead the way. I shall follow in a few minutes. Forward, comrades! The hay is waiting.»

So the animals went to the hayfield to begin the harvest. When they came back in the evening the milk had disappeared.

Chapter III

How they toiled and sweated! But their efforts were rewarded, for the harvest was even bigger than they hoped.

Sometimes the work was hard; the implements were designed for human beings and not for animals. It was a great drawback that no animal was able to use any tool to stand on his hind legs. But the pigs were so clever that they could find the way. As for the horses, they knew every inch of the field, and in fact understood the business of mowing and raking far better than Jones and his men.

The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they assumed the leadership.

Boxer and Clover harnessed themselves to the cutter or the horse-rake (no bits or reins, of course) and tramped steadily round and round the field. A pig was walking behind and calling out В«Gee up, comrade!В» or В«Whoa back, comrade!В»

Every animal worked, they turned the hay and gathered it. Even the ducks and hens toiled to and fro all day in the sun.

They carried tiny wisps of hay in their beaks. In the end they finished the harvest in two days’ less time than it usually took Jones and his men. Moreover, it was the biggest harvest on the farm. There was no wastage; the hens and ducks with their sharp eyes gathered up every stalk. And not an animal on the farm stole anything.

All through that summer the work of the farm went like clockwork. The animals were happy.