The last line of Chapter 3 in "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle," where Charlotte says, "But then at last I truly awoke," means that Charlotte has finally realized the reality of her situation. Until that point, she had been living in a dream-like state, imagining her journey as a grand adventure. However, the events of Chapter 3, where she witnesses the murder of the sailor, the crew's dismissal of the event, and the captain's stern warning, bring her back to reality. This awakening signifies that Charlotte is beginning to understand the harsh and dangerous world she has entered and that her previous notions of a thrilling sea voyage are far from the truth.
