← Even the stupidest of them had already picked up the tune and a few of the words, and as for the clever ones, such as the pigs and dogs, they had the entire song by heart within a few minutes. 🔊
← A minute later all five of them were in full flight down the cart−track that led to the main road, with the animals pursuing them in triumph. 🔊
← For the first few minutes the animals could hardly believe in their good fortune. Their first act was to gallop in a body right round the boundaries of the farm, as though to make quite sure that no human being was hiding anywhere upon it; then they raced back to the farm buildings to wipe out the last traces of Jones's hated reign. 🔊
← The harvest is more important. Comrade Snowball will lead the way. I shall follow in a few minutes. 🔊
← He gave his orders quickly, and in a couple of minutes every animal was at his post. 🔊
← And so within five minutes of their invasion they were in ignominious retreat by the same way as they had come, with a flock of geese hissing after them and pecking at their calves all the way. 🔊
← But it was some minutes before they could fully take it in. They all remembered, or thought they remembered, how they had seen Snowball charging ahead of them at the Battle of the Cowshed, how he had rallied and encouraged them at every turn, and how he had not paused for an instant even when the pellets from Jones's gun had wounded his back. 🔊
← But that society has now been established. Clearly this song has no longer any purpose." Frightened though they were, some of the animals might possibly have protested, but at this moment the sheep set up their usual bleating of "Four legs good, two legs bad," which went on for several minutes and put an end to the discussion. 🔊
← After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. Then there was a deafening roar. 🔊
← And sure enough, the rumour was true. A few minutes later two pigeons came racing in with the news: "Boxer has fallen! 🔊
← For example, Squealer told them that the pigs had to expend enormous labours every day upon mysterious things called "files," "reports," "minutes," and "memoranda." 🔊
← Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs good, two legs better!" It went on for five minutes without stopping. 🔊
← For a minute or two they stood gazing at the tarred wall with its white lettering. 🔊