"Well. We shan't find what we are looking for at this rate".
He looked at Jack,
"Now for the mountain. We've got to start the fire again."
Mourice spoke,
"Supposing the beast's up there?"
Jack brandished his spear. "We will kill it."
"What are we waiting for? I suppose," said Ralph, "if we keep on by the sea this way we will come out below the burnt belt and then we can climb the mountain."
Once more Jack led them along by the suck and heave of the blinding sea. They tried the forest but it was thick and woven like a bird's nest. In the end they had to jump one by one, waiting till the water sank. After that the rocks seemed to be growing impassable so they sat for a time. Then they tried to hurry along the rocks. They followed a ram track going at a trot. Ralph made a decision.
"We'll go straight across to the platform and climb tomorrow."
They murmured agreement. They were going straight back to the platform now not, of course,that they were afraid-but tired.
Jack spoke viciously,
"I am going up the mountain to look for the beast - now.'
Then asked bitterly,
"coming?"
He took a step. "Well then-"
Question 1: What is Ralph's decision regarding their search, and why does he make it?
Answer: Ralph decides that they will go straight across to the platform and climb the mountain the next day. He makes this decision because they are tired and worn out from their current journey along the rocks.
Question 2: How does Jack respond to Maurice's concern about the beast being on the mountain?
Answer: Jack responds by brandishing his spear and asserting that they will kill the beast if it's up there, showing his aggressive attitude towards confronting any potential threat.
Question 3: Describe the terrain the boys encounter during their search?
Answer: The boys try to traverse the forest, which is described as thick and woven like a bird's nest. They also encounter rocky terrain that becomes increasingly difficult to navigate.
Question 4: Why does Ralph suggest going straight back to the platform?
Answer: Ralph suggests going straight back to the platform because they are tired, not necessarily because they are afraid. He acknowledges their fatigue and the need to rest before attempting to climb the mountain.
Question 5: What does Jack's tone and actions suggest about his attitude towards finding the beast?
Answer: Jack's tone is described as vicious, indicating his determination and aggression in wanting to find the beast. His decision to go up the mountain immediately, despite the others' fatigue, reflects his eagerness to confront the perceived threat head-on.
Question 6: How do the other boys respond to Jack's decision to go up the mountain?
Answer: The other boys initially murmur agreement with Ralph's decision to go back to the platform due to fatigue. However, Jack's persistence and bitter tone seem to sway some of them, as they consider whether to join him or not.