Jack eventually admits that the signal fire should be kept alive and apologizes. A large feast is held in which Jack controls the fruit of the hunt, refusing to give Piggy any meat. As Jack leads the hunters in a wild and barbaric dance around the fire, Ralph's concern about the welfare of the island society increases.
Following the feast, Ralph calls a meeting, lecturing the boys sternly on their lack of responsibility and their lack of cooperation with even the most basic rules of survival on the island, and the failure to acknowledge the importance of the signal fire. An additional topic discussed was the unspoken fear harbored by many of the boys and spreading out among the group. Ralph and Piggy attempt to allay this fear, explaining the visions of beasts and night horrors in a rational fashion. Ralph, in this task, recognizes that what sanity remains on the island is disappearing. Nothing settled, the fear among the boys continues to grow and the importance of the signal fire is not in agreement. As the decorum of the meeting grows unruly and chaotic, Jack refuses to abide by any rules except those he chooses. Led by Jack, most of the boys run off to their huts, wildly singing and chanting. Piggy encourages Ralph to blow the conch and call the boys back; however, Ralph refuses with the knowledge that if the boys did not respond, order on the island would be destroyed forever.
That night, while the boys are asleep, there is an aircraft battle above the island. As even Sam and Eric, the boys in charge of the fire, are sleeping, no one sees a parachutist float down to the island. When the firewatchers awaken, they are frightened by the noise and shadows made by the parachute and the dead pilot and flee in terror to the beach below. Sam and Eric arouse the others, providing an exaggerated account of how the beast attacked them, sent and expedition of boys armed with wooden spears on a search for the beast.