When the trio returns to the beach, Ralph uses the conch shell to gather the attention of the other boys for another meeting. In this meeting, Ralph realises and informs the others that they need to get a proper system in order as there are no adults to be found. Jack reminds him of the pig they found and Ralph agrees that they need hunters to source meat. 

He then determines that, during these meetings, the conch shell shall give a person the right to speak and, whilst they possess it, others must listen. Piggy then begins to verbalise his fears for their survival, aware that others in the world might not even be knowledgeable of their location. 

This naturally frightens many of the boys and one pipes up, telling of a monster he saw in the jungle the night before. The older boys try to calm everyone down by assuring them that no such beast exists. 

Ralph them suggests that the group construct something of a signal fire on top of the island’s tallest mountain, in order to grab the attention of any planes flying past. The boys are eager and set off but Piggy and Ralph remain slow at the back, with Piggy fearing the strength of the group’s intelligence. 

The boys gather dead wood and create a pile, setting it alight using Piggy’s glasses, but it soon weakens, and the boys even manage to accidentally ignite a portion of the jungle. Piggy, furious, declares that he saw the same boy that warned them of the beast playing by the fire and that he is now missing. All are ashamed of this but all seem to act as if nothing ever occurred.