The officer turned back to Ralph.
"We'll take you off. How many of you are there?
Ralph shook his head. The officer looked past him to the group of painted boys.
"Who is boss here?"
"I am", said Ralph loudly.
"We saw your smoke. And you don't know how many of you there are?"
'No, sir."
"I should have thought", said the officer as he visualised the search before him, "that a pack of British boys - you're all British, aren't you? Would you have been able to put up a better show than that - I mean -"
"It was like that at first" said Ralph, "before things - " He stopped.
"We were together then-"
The officer nodded helpfully.
"I know. Jolly good show. Like Coral island."
Ralph began shedding tears for their early days on the island. He remembered Simon and Piggy. He wept for the loss of innocence and for the darkness of men's hearts.
The other boys also began sobbing. The officer, surrounded by these noises, was moved and a little embarrassed. He turned away to give them time to pull themselves together; and waited, allowing his eyes to rest on the trim cruiser in the distance.
Question 1: How does Ralph respond when the officer asks how many of them there are?
Answer: Ralph shakes his head, indicating that he doesn't know the exact number of boys on the island.
Question 2: Who does the officer inquire about as the boss among the boys?
Answer: The officer asks who is the boss among the boys, to which Ralph confidently responds, "I am."
Question 3: What does the officer mention about seeing their smoke, and how does Ralph respond?
Answer: The officer mentions that they saw their smoke and expresses surprise that they don't know how many of them there are. Ralph responds by acknowledging their initial efforts at survival before things changed.
Question 4: What does Ralph remember and weep for as he talks to the officer?
Answer: Ralph remembers Simon and Piggy and weeps for the loss of innocence and the darkness of men's hearts.
Question 5: How do the other boys react to Ralph's tears?
Answer: The other boys also begin sobbing, moved by Ralph's emotional response.
Question 6: How does the officer react to the boys' emotional outpouring?
Answer: The officer is moved and a little embarrassed by the boys' tears. He turns away to give them time to pull themselves together, indicating his understanding and empathy.