Napoleon called the animals together immediately and in a terrible voice pronounced the death sentence upon Frederick. 🔊 When captured, he said, Frederick should be boiled alive. At the same time he warned them that after this treacherous deed the worst was to be expected. 🔊 Frederick and his men might make their long−expected attack at any moment. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. 🔊 In addition, four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message, which it was hoped might re−establish good relations with Pilkington. 🔊

The very next morning the attack came. The animals were at breakfast when the look−outs came racing in with the news that Frederick and his followers had already come through the five−barred gate. 🔊 Boldly enough the animals sallied forth to meet them, but this time they did not have the easy victory that they had had in the Battle of the Cowshed. 🔊 There were fifteen men, with half a dozen guns between them, and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. 🔊 The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets, and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them, they were soon driven back. 🔊 A number of them were already wounded. They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot−holes. 🔊 The whole of the big pasture, including the windmill, was in the hands of the enemy. 🔊 For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. He paced up and down without a word, his tail rigid and twitching. 🔊 Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood. If Pilkington and his men would help them, the day might yet be won. 🔊 But at this moment the four pigeons, who had been sent out on the day before, returned, one of them bearing a scrap of paper from Pilkington. 🔊 On it was pencilled the words: "Serves you right." Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted about the windmill. 🔊 The animals watched them, and a murmur of dismay went round. Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer. 🔊 They were going to knock the windmill down.

"Impossible!" cried Napoleon. "We have built the walls far too thick for that. 🔊 They could not knock it down in a week. Courage, comrades!"

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