But before her signature, she added the words:
"If I think well."
And as Charlie did not see what she had written till after it was done, he was after all worsted by the woman.
Then they all went out into the garden, and down to the stream where the raft was moored.
It was quite big enough to hold them all, and the stream was just wide enough to let it go floating along without touching the banks. Charlie told them that the stream turned into a river, a mile or two along the fields.
"And then the river goes into the sea; so there's nothing between us and the real ocean, and we can go on for ever."
"Till we reach the Treasure," said Hope, "I hope we shall reach something, Charlie!"
Charlie nodded mysteriously.
The little girls went home in high spirits.
Granny looked slightly alarmed when she heard of what they intended to do, but Charity relieved her mind.