second start was followed by immediate disaster.
Leaving the mouth of the harbour, two leagues distant from Port Royal,
they were carried out of the channel by the tide and went aground. 'At
the first blow of our boat upon the rocks the rudder broke, a part of
the keel and three or four planks were smashed and some ribs stove in,
which frightened us, for our barque filled immediately; and all that we
could do was to wait until the sea fell, so that we might get
ashore.... Our barque, all shattered as she was, went to pieces at the
return of the tide. But we, most happy at having saved our lives,
returned to our settlement with our poor savages; and we praised God
for having rescued us from this shipwreck, from which we had not
expected to escape so easily.'

This accident destroyed all hope of exploration to the southward until
word came from France. At the time of De Monts' departure the outlook
had been so doubtful that a provisional arrangement was made for the
return of the colonists to France should no ship arrive at Port Royal
by the middle of July. In this event Pontgrave was to take his people
{46} to Cape Breton or Gaspe, where they would find trading ships
homeward bound. As neither De Monts nor Poutrincourt had arrived by
the middle of June, a new barque was built to replace the one which had
been lost on April 10. A month later Pontgrave carried out his part of
the programme by putting aboard all the inhabitants of Port Royal save
two, who were induced by promise of extra pay to remain in charge of
the stores.

Thus sorrowfully the remnant of the colonists bade farewell to the
beautiful harbour and their new home. Four days later they were nearly
lost through the breaking of their rudder in the midst of a tempest.
Having been saved from wreck by the skill of their shipmaster,
Champdore, they reached Cape Sable on July 24. Here grief became
rejoicing, for to their complete surprise they encountered Ralleau, De
Monts' secretary, coasting along in a shallop. The glad tidings he
gave them was that Poutrincourt with a ship of one hundred and twenty
tons had arrived. From Canseau the _Jonas_ had taken an outer course
to Port Royal, while Ralleau was keeping close to the shore in the hope
of intercepting Pontgrave. 'All this intelligence,' says Champlain,
'caused us to turn back; and we arrived at {47} Port Royal on the 25th
of the month, where we found the above-mentioned vessel and Sieur de
Poutrinc