To change the subject, Ralph shouted as Maurice came to the surface. He slid easily into the water and crawled out of the other side of the pool to lie there. The next moment he was on his feet and shouting:
"Smoke! smoke!"
"Ralph---where is the ship?".
Simon stood by, looking from Ralph to the horizon. Ralph's face was pale as he spoke to himself. "They'll see our smoke."
Ralph moved impatiently, still watching the ship.
"The smoke on the mountain."
He looked back at the dispersing smoke on the horizon, then up at the mountain. He started running. Just where the steep ascent of the mountain began, he stopped. "Oh God! oh God!"
The fire was right out, smokeless and dead; the watchers were gone. A pile of unused fuel lay ready. Ralph ran stumbling along the rocks, saved himself on the edge of the pink cliff and screamed at the ship.
"Come back! come back!"
He ran backwards and forwards along the cliff. His face always to the sea, and his voice rose insanely.
"Come back! Come back!!
Simon and Mourice arrived. He reached inside himself for the worst word he knew. "They let the bloody fire out."
He looked down the unfriendly side of the mountain. He clenched his fist and went very red. The intentness of his gaze, the bitterness of his voice pointed for him.
"There they are”.
Question 1: What prompts Ralph to change the subject, and what urgent message does Maurice deliver?
Answer: Ralph changes the subject to distract from their current situation, and Maurice urgently shouts about seeing smoke.
Question 2: Why does Ralph become pale when he realizes the significance of the smoke, and what does he express concern about?
Answer: Ralph becomes pale because he realizes that the smoke could signal their presence to a passing ship. He expresses concern about the ship seeing their smoke.
Question 3: Describe Ralph's reaction upon discovering the state of the fire on the mountain?
Answer: Ralph becomes frantic and distressed upon discovering that the fire is out and the watchers are gone. He runs along the rocks, screaming for the ship to come back.
Question 4: What does Ralph do when he realizes the gravity of the situation regarding the fire, and how does he express his frustration?
Answer: Ralph runs along the cliff, facing the sea, and screams for the ship to come back. He clenches his fist, turns red with anger, and bitterly accuses the others of letting the fire out.
Question 5: Who arrives to witness Ralph's distress, and how does Ralph express his anger towards the others?
Answer: Simon and Maurice arrive, and Ralph expresses his anger by using strong language, saying, "They let the bloody fire out."
Question 6: What does Ralph point out to Simon and Maurice, and how does he convey his disappointment?
Answer: Ralph points out the absence of the watchers and the extinguished fire on the mountain. He conveys his disappointment through his intense gaze, bitter voice, and angry gestures.