As Ralph tries to talk with the boys"something fittered in front of his mind,like a bat's wing,obscuring his idea." What is his state of...

As Ralph leads the boys up the mountain where the beast
was seen by SamnEric, he realizes that the twins' fear of it has magnified their
description of it as having claws, for if it has claws why were the boys not scratched
when it grabbed at them.  Then, when the boys become caught up in the exploration of the
bridge and its area, Ralph hits his hand against a stone in frustration; his priorities
are lost on the boys. Now, he must abandon them for the simple goal of
rescue. 

A
strange thing happened in his head.  Something flittered there in front of his mind like
a bat's wind, obscuring his
idea.

Ralph remembers his
dream of a "return to the ponies and tea time"; he remembers civility, something about
which he dreams.  But, he is beginning to forget such things.  "At once the ideas were
back, and the anger."  They must be rescued.  Ralph scolds the boys for wasting time by
rolling rocks.  Feeling his leadership slipping from him, Ralph insists that the boys
proceed in order to make sure about the beast so that they can go to maintain the rescue
fire.  But, the boys become quiet, and Ralph, in his frustration strikes the skin off
his knuckles again.  He insists,

readability="5">

"Can't you see the mountain?  There's no signal
showing? ...Are you all off your
rockers?"

It has been too
long for the boys to have been without the influence of civilization.  Even Ralph has
reduced his concerns as he begins to lose his leadership.  In mutiny the boys fall
silent and Jack leads the way down the rock.

 
He shouts, "Smoke."