Before the adults arrive to save them, the boys decide that they are going to have a nice time on the island. Flowers, vegetables, and the sea are visible.

The boys are joking and trying to persuade the youths that on the island there are no beasts. The boys determine that on the top of the mountain they will make a fire to prove that they are discovered by the rescue ship.

In order to burn the dried leaves and tree roots, they use Piggy’s glasses. They have difficulty burning it at first, then keeping it going, and then the fire spreads to the nearest trees. Jack finally takes the task of keeping the fire burning:

“Ralph, I’ll split up the choir–my hunters, that is–into groups, and we’ll be responsible for keeping the fire going” (Chapter 2).