Ralph lay in a covert, wondering about his wounds. All over, he was scratched and bruised from his flight through the forest. He was not really far from the Castle Rock. He had even glimpsed one of them stripped brown, black, and red, and had judged that it was Bill. But really, thought Ralph, this was not Bill. This was a Savage whose image refused to blend with the ancient picture of a boy in shorts and shirt. The afternoon died away. He peered with elaborate caution between branches at the edge and could see Robert sitting on guard at the top of the Cliff. Ralph for the first time since the morning felt hungry. The tribe must be sitting round the gutted pig. He could see Robert, the watchman, being given his portion of meat. He limped away through the fruit trees. He came to the smashed acres of fruit and ate greedily. When he had eaten he went towards the beach. No fire; no smoke; no rescue. He turned and limped away through the forest towards Jack's end of the island. At length, he came to a clearing in the forest where rock prevented vegetation from growing. There, he saw a skull with all the meat and skin eaten away. It was fixed upon a stick. Fiercely, he hit out the filthy thing in front of him. He wrenched the quivering stick from the crack and held it as a spear. Then he backed away, keeping his face to the skull that lay grinning at the sky. Ralph came again to the thicket in front of Castle Rock. Peeping through, he could see that the height was still occupied, and whoever it was up there had a spear at the ready.
He knelt among the shadows and felt his isolation bitterly. Tired though he was, he could not relax and fall into a well of sleep. The tribe lay there in the darkness, he knew he was an outcast,
"Cos I had some sense.
Question 1: Describe Ralph's physical condition as he lies in covert, and what thoughts occupy his mind?
Answer: Ralph is scratched and bruised from his flight through the forest. He wonders about his wounds and contemplates his surroundings, including the nearby Castle Rock and the presence of the Savages.
Question 2: How does Ralph perceive the Savages, particularly when he sees one of them, Bill?
Answer: Ralph sees the Savages as different from the boys he once knew. He realizes that Bill, now a Savage, does not fit the image of the boys in shorts and shirts from their earlier days.
Question 3: What does Ralph observe about the tribe's activities while he hides in covert, and how does he react to his hunger?
Answer: Ralph observes the tribe sitting round a gutted pig, with Robert being given his portion of meat. He feels hunger for the first time since morning and limps away to eat fruit.
Question 4: What realization does Ralph come to as he searches for signs of rescue on the beach, and what action does he take in response?
Answer: Ralph realizes there is no fire, smoke, or sign of rescue on the beach. In response, he turns and limps away towards Jack's end of the island.
Question 5: Describe Ralph's encounter with the skull fixed upon a stick, and how does he react to it?
Answer: Ralph encounters a skull with all the meat and skin eaten away, fixed upon a stick. He reacts fiercely, hitting the filthy thing and wrenching the stick from the crack to hold it as a spear.
Question 6: How does Ralph feel about his situation as he kneels among the shadows, and why does he believe he is an outcast?
Answer: Ralph feels bitter isolation and exhaustion. He believes he is an outcast because he had some sense, implying that his adherence to reason and rules sets him apart from the tribe.
