"You haven't got it with you", said Jack, sneering. "You left it behind. See, clever? And the conch doesn't count at this end of the island".
"The conch counts here too" said Ralph, "and all over the island. I will blow the conch and call an assembly."
"We shan't hear it", Jack repudiated.
There was a blink of bright light beyond the forest and the thunder exploded again. Big drops of rain fell among them making individual sounds when they struck. "Going to be a storm" said Ralph," and you will have rain like when you dropped here. Who is clever now? Where are your shelters? What are you going to do about that?
A wave of restlessness set the boys swaying and moving aimlessly. The Littluns began to run about screaming. Jack leapt onto the sand.
"Do our dance! Come On! Dance!"
He ran stumbling through the thick sand to the open space of rock beyond the fire. The boys followed him, clamorously. Soon the pig hunting dance was started. All the other boys joined in. The chant rose a tone in agony.
"Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!" "Him! Him!"
The circle became a horseshoe. A thing was crawling out of the forest. It came darkly and uncertainly. The beast stumbled into the horseshoe. The boys attacked it like a beast chanting,
"Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!"
It was crying out something about a dead man on the hill. The sticks fell and the mouth of the new circle crunched and screamed. The beast was on its knees in the centre, its arms folded over its face. It was crying out against the abominable noise, something about a body on the hill. The beast struggled forward, broke the ring and fell over the steep edge of the rock to the sand by the water. At once, the crowd surged after it poured down the rock, leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words and no movements but the tearing of teeth and claws. Even in the rain they could see how small a beast it was; and already its blood was staining the sand.
Question 1: How does Jack challenge Ralph's authority regarding the conch?
Answer: Jack sneers at Ralph, claiming that the conch doesn't count on their end of the island because Ralph left it behind.
Question 2: How does Ralph assert the significance of the conch?
Answer: Ralph insists that the conch counts both where they are and all over the island, stating his intention to blow the conch and call an assembly.
Question 3: What natural event interrupts the confrontation between Ralph and Jack?
Answer: A blink of bright light beyond the forest is followed by thunder and the onset of rain, indicating an impending storm.
Question 4: How does Ralph use the approaching storm to challenge Jack's leadership?
Answer: Ralph taunts Jack about their lack of shelters and the impending rain, questioning Jack's wisdom and preparedness in light of the storm.
Question 5: What effect does the storm have on the boys' behavior?
Answer: The storm causes restlessness among the boys, with the littluns running about screaming and the others swaying and moving aimlessly.
Question 6: Describe the scene as the boys perform the pig hunting dance and encounter the supposed beast?
Answer: The boys, led by Jack, perform the pig hunting dance, chanting and becoming increasingly frenzied. When a figure emerges from the forest, they attack it, chanting to kill the beast. The beast struggles, falls over a rock, and the boys descend upon it, unleashing a savage attack.