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〃He's a proper chief； isn't he？〃
Robert nodded。
〃He's going to take us hunting。〃
He jerked his head in the direction of the distant shelters where a thread of white smoke climbed up the sky。 Roger； sitting on the very edge of the cliff； looked somberly back at the island as he worked with his fingers at a loose tooth。 His gaze settled on the top of the distant mountain and Robert changed the unspoken subject。
〃He's going to beat Wilfred。〃
〃What for？〃
Robert shook his head doubtfully。
〃I don't know。 He didn't say。 He got angry and made us tie Wilfred up。 He's been〃…he giggled excitedly… 〃he's been tied for hours； waiting…〃
〃But didn't the chief say why？'
〃I never heard him。〃
Sitting on the tremendous rocks in the torrid sun； Roger received this news as an illumination。 He ceased to work at his tooth and sat still； assimilating the possibilities of irresponsible authority。 Then； without another word； he climbed down the back of the rocks toward the cave and the rest of the tribe。
The chief was sitting there； naked to the waist； his face blocked out in white and red。 The tribe lay in a semicircle before him。 The newly beaten and untied Wilfred was sniffing noisily in the background。 Roger squatted with the rest。
〃Tomorrow；〃 went on the chief； 〃we shall hunt again。〃
He pointed at this savage and that with his spear。
〃Some of you will stay here to improve the cave and defend the gate。 I shall take a few hunters with me and bring back meat。 The defenders of the gate will see that the others don't sneak in。〃
A savage raised his hand and the chief turned a bleak； painted face toward him。
〃Why should they try to sneak in； Chief？〃
The chief was vague but earnest。
〃They will。 They'll try to spoil things we do。 So the watchers at the gate must be careful。 And then…〃
The chief paused。 They saw a triangle of startling pink dart out； pass along his lips and vanish again。
〃…and then； the beast might try to e in。 You remember how he crawled…〃
The semicircle shuddered and muttered in agreement。
〃He came…disguised。 He may e again even though we gave him the head of our kill to eat。 So watch； and be careful。〃
Stanley lifted his forearm off the rock and held up an interrogative finger。
〃Well？〃
〃But didn't we； didn't we…？〃
He squirmed and looked down。
〃No！〃
In the silence that followed； each savage flinched away from his individual memory。
〃No！ How could we…kill…it？〃
Half…relieved； half…daunted by the implication of further terrors； the savages murmured again。
〃So leave the mountain alone；〃 said the chief； solemnly； 〃and give it the head if you go hunting。〃
Stanley flicked his finger again。
〃I expect the beast disguised itself。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said the chief。 A theological speculation presented itself。 〃We'd better keep on the right side of him； anyhow。 You can't tell what he might do。〃
The tribe considered this； and then were shaken； as if by a flaw of wind。 The chief saw the effect of his words and stood abruptly。
〃But tomorrow we'll hunt and when we've got meat we'll have a feast…〃
Bill put up his hand。
〃Yes？〃'
〃What'll we use for lighting the fire？〃
The chiefs blush was hidden by the white and red clay Into his uncertain silence the tribe spilled their murmur once more。 Then the chief held up his hand。
〃We shall take fire from the others。 Listen。 Tomorrow well hunt and get meat。 Tonight Ill go along with two hunters…who'll e？〃
Maurice and Roger put up their hands。
〃Maurice…〃
〃Yes； Chief？〃
〃Where was their fire？〃
〃Back at the old place by the fire rock。〃
The chief nodded。
〃The rest of you can go to sleep as soon as the sun sets。 But us three； Maurice； Roger and me； we've got work to do。 We'll leave just before sunset…〃
Maurice put up his hand。
〃But what happens if we meet…〃
The chief waved his objection aside。
〃We'll keep along by the sands。 Then if he es well do our； our dance again。〃
〃Only the three of us？〃
Again the murmur swelled and died away。
Piggy handed Ralph his glasses and waited to receive back his sight。 The wood was damp； and this was the third time they had lighted it Ralph stood back； speaking to himself。
〃We don't want another night without fire。〃
He looked round guiltily at the three boys standing by。 This was the first time he had admitted the double function of the fire。 Certainly one was to send up a beckoning column of smoke； but the other was to be a hearth now and a fort until they slept。 Eric breathed on the wood till it glowed and sent out a little flame。 A billow of white and yellow smoke reeked up。 Piggy took back his glasses and looked at the smoke with pleasure。
〃If only we could make a radio！〃
〃Or a plane…〃
〃…or a boat。〃
Ralph dredged in his fading knowledge of the world。
〃We might get taken prisoner by the Reds。〃
Eric pushed back his hair。
〃They'd be better than…〃
He would not name people and Sam finished the sentence for him by nodding along the beach。
Ralph remembered the ungainly figure on a parachute。
〃He said something about a dead man。〃 He flushed painfully at this admission that he had been present at the dance。 He made urging motions at the smoke with his body。 〃Don't stop…go on up！〃
〃Smoke's getting thinner。〃
〃We need more wood already； even when it's wet。〃
〃My asthma…〃
The response was mechanical。
〃Sucks to your ass…mar。〃
〃If I pull logs about； I get my asthma bad。 I wish I didn't； Ralph； but there it is。〃
The three boys went into the forest and fetched armfuls of rotten wood。 Once more the smoke rose； yellow and thick。
〃Let's get something to eat。〃
Together they went to the fruit trees； carrying their spears； saying little； cramming in haste。 When they came out of the forest again the sun was setting and only embers glowed in the fire； and there was no smoke。
〃I can't carry any more wood；〃 said Eric。 〃I'm tired。〃
Ralph cleared his throat。
〃We kept the fire going up there。〃
〃Up there it was small。 But this has got to be a big one。〃
Ralph carried a fragment to the fire and watched the smoke that drifted into the dusk。
''We've got to keep it going。〃
Eric flung himself down。
〃I'm too tired。 And what's the good？〃
〃Eric！〃 cried Ralph in a shocked voice。 〃Don't talk like that！〃
Sam knelt by Eric。
〃Well…what is the good？〃
Ralph tried indignantly to remember。 There was something good about a fire。 Something overwhelmingly good。
〃Ralph's told you often enough；〃 said Piggy moodily。 〃How else are we going to be rescued？〃
〃Of course！ If we don't make smoke…〃
He squatted before them in the crowding dusk。
〃Don't you understand？ What's the good of wishing for radios and boats？〃
He held out his hand and twisted the fingers into a fist
〃There's only one thing we can do to get out of this mess。 Anyone can play at hunting； anyone can get us meat…〃
He looked from face to face。 Then； at the moment of greatest passion and conviction； that curtain flapped in his head and he forgot what he had been driving at。 He knelt there； his fist clenched； gazing solemnly from one to the other。 Then the curtain whisked back。
〃Oh； yes。 So we've got to make sm