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"Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity, thinking to set back our plans and avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion, this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year.

Comrades, here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball.

Animal Hero, Second Class,' and half a bushel of apples to any animal who brings him to justice.

A full bushel to anyone who captures him alive!"

The animals were shocked beyond measure to learn that even Snowball could be guilty of such an action.

There was a cry of indignation, and everyone began thinking out ways of catching Snowball if he should ever come back.

Almost immediately the footprints of a pig were discovered in the grass at a little distance from the knoll.

They could only be traced for a few yards, but appeared to lead to a hole in the hedge.

Napoleon snuffed deeply at them and pronounced them to be Snowball's.

He gave it as his opinion that Snowball had probably come from the direction of Foxwood Farm.

"No more delays, comrades!" cried Napoleon when the footprints had been examined.

"There is work to be done.

This very morning we begin rebuilding the windmill, and we will build all through the winter, rain or shine.

We will teach this miserable traitor that he cannot undo our work so easily.

Remember, comrades, there must be no alteration in our plans: they shall be carried out to the day.

Forward, comrades! Long live the windmill! Long live Animal Farm!"

It was a bitter winter.

The stormy weather was followed by sleet and snow, and then by a hard frost which did not break till well into February.

The animals carried on as best they could with the rebuilding of the windmill, well knowing that the outside world was watching them and that the envious human beings would rejoice and triumph if the mill were not finished on time.

Out of spite, the human beings pretended not to believe that it was Snowball who had destroyer the windmill: they said that it had fallen down because the walls were too thin.

The animals knew that this was not the case.

Still, it had been decided to build the walls three feet thick this time instead of eighteen inches as before, which meant collecting much larger quantities of stone.

For a long time the quarry was full of snowdrifts and nothing could be done.

Some progress was made in the dry frosty weather that followed, but it was cruel work, and the animals could not feel so hopeful about it as they had felt before.

Chapter 7

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