1 And sure enough, the rumour was true.
2 But there were also rumours of something more serious.
3 All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents.
4 He was rumoured to be hiding on one of the neighbouring farms, either Foxwood or Pinchfield.
5 A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon's food.
6 Late one evening in the summer, a sudden rumour ran round the farm that something had happened to Boxer.
7 It had come to his knowledge, he said, that a foolish and wicked rumour had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal.
8 As the summer wore on, and the windmill neared completion, the rumours of an impending treacherous attack grew stronger and stronger.
9 At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill, the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him.
10 Now that the small field beyond the orchard had been set aside for barley, it was rumoured that a corner of the large pasture was to be fenced off and turned into a grazing-ground for superannuated animals.
11 Except through Whymper, there was as yet no contact between Animal Farm and the outside world, but there were constant rumours that Napoleon was about to enter into a definite business agreement either with Mr. Pilkington of Foxwood or with Mr. Frederick of Pinchfield--but never, it was noticed, with both simultaneously.