Once Ralph spots the ship, he realizes that it may be their only chance of rescue and tries to signal it by waving a branch frantically. He then rushes back to the camp to gather the other boys and lead them towards the beach to create a signal fire in order to attract the attention of the ship.
Ralph spotted the smoke from a passing ship on the horizon in chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair.
Ralph spots a plume of smoke comming from the funnel of a ship on the horizon.
Ralph believes that Jack saw a ship
ralph says we need to do a fire so if a ship passes they can see us
They see a ship
Pi spots a large ship passing by in Chapter 77. He tries to signal it for help by using his flare gun, but the ship continues without stopping. This disappointing event leaves Pi feeling disheartened and abandoned.
Ralph said right from the start of the book that he had two priorities, to be rescued and to have fun while in the meantime. Jack had told him that his hunters would be responsible for keeping the fire lit. When Ralph spots a ship on the horizon he also notices that the signal fire isn't lit. It turns out that Jack had taken the fire watchers on a hunt. Ralph was angry that just because Jack wanted extra help to hunt a pig the chance of them all being rescued had been missed
it is ironic that Jack used fire to capture Ralph becuase be was trying to find Ralph, which he did. Also the fire caused a ship to come to the idland because they saw the jungle on fire. With the ship stopping at the island and an officer coming on the beach, saved Ralph who was coming so close to a violent death. The officer also stopped the other boys from continuing on to kill Ralph. The ship saves Ralph and alll of the remaining boys. Seeing an adult and being saved, makes all of the boys emotional.
They see a ship
Jack and his choir were at the top of the mountain when Ralph spotted the smoke from the ship. They were supposed to be tending the fire, which they let go out while they were hunting.
It was Jack's job to maintain the fire, but he was hunting instead. Ralph is mad because while Jack was hunting the fire went out and a ship went by. If Jack had maintained the fire they might have been rescued.
The ghost ship appears on certain spots depending on the moon. The Ghost Ship Chart shows the location of the ship in Diamond Steppe Island