The two speculate as to whether or not the fire is strong enough to signal a passing ship, but Jack is distracted again by thoughts of killing a pig. Ralph and Jack make their way to the mountain to inspect the fire, leaving Simon behind.
Ralph ignores this confession and reminds Jack to remember the fire when he is out hunting. Nevertheless, he says, he knows "how they feel." They laugh that the littluns are "crackers." Jack says that when he is hunting he often feels as if he is being hunted, but he admits that this is irrational. The two are interrupted by Simon, who reminds Ralph and Jack about the littluns' fear of the "beastie." The three reminisce about their first day on the island, when they explored the unknown territory together. Ralph mentions that the other boys, especially the littluns, are frightened and scream in the middle of the night. The two argue about Jack's contributions to the society on the island, Jack vowing to kill prey and Ralph insisting that they need shelters more than anything. Jack explains that he has little control over his hunters, but he has been working hard himself to "kill." A "madness" flashes in his eyes when he vows to kill a pig, but Ralph again reminds him that he has not yet captured any prey. Ralph points out that Jack's group has yet to bring any meat back from the forest-the hunters would rather swim than hunt. Ralph admits that even if he called a meeting, the group would agree to five minutes of work and then "wander off to go hunting." Recognizing this as a slight against himself and his hunters, Jack blushes, and he explains that the group is hungry. Jack then tells Ralph that as chief he should just order them to work harder. Jack reminds Ralph that he and his hunters are working hard to ensure that the group is always fed. The little ones-referred to now as "littluns," are hopeless, spending most of their time bathing or eating. After Jack quenches his thirst, Ralph complains to Jack that the boys are not working hard to build the shelters.
FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN RUN BOY RUN FULL
Jack asks Ralph for water, who directs him to a tree where coconut shells full of water are arranged. He comes upon Ralph, who is working on a shelter facing the lagoon. Having frightened off the pigs without a kill, Jack abandons the hunt and returns to a clearing in the forest, where the boys are constructing crude shelters out of tree trunks and palm leaves. Jack appears to have taken up his role as group hunter with zeal, and he at least has become talented at tracking pigs in the dense brush. The length of Jack's hair, the mass of freckles on his tanned back, and the tattered condition of his shorts indicate that weeks have passed since the boys were abandoned on the island. He raises his spear and hurls it at a group of pigs, driving them away and thus feeling a profound sense of impotence and frustration. Finally, Jack spots a path cleared by pigs (a "pig run") and hears the pattering of hooves. He examines the texture of vines ("creepers") to determine whether or not pigs have run through that section of the brush.
A bird startles him as he progresses along the trail. Jack scans the oppressively silent forest, looking for pigs to hunt.