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 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 Port Royal on the 25th of the month, where we found the above-mentioned vessel and Sieur de Poutrincourt, and were greatly delighted to see realized what we had given up in despair.’  Lescarbot, who arrived on board the Jonas, adds the following detail:  ’M. de Poutrincourt ordered a tun of wine to be set upon end, one of those which had been given him for his proper use, and gave leave to all comers to drink freely as long as it lasted, so that there were some who made gay dogs of themselves.’

Wine-bibbing, however, was not the chief activity of Port Royal.  Poutrincourt at once set men to work on the land, and while they were sowing wheat, rye, and hemp he hastened preparations for an autumn cruise ’along the coast of Florida.’  On September 5 all was ready for this voyage, which was to be Champlain’s last opportunity of reaching the lands beyond Cape Cod.  Once more disappointment awaited him.  ‘It was decided,’ he says, ’to continue the voyage along the coast, which was not a very well considered conclusion, since we lost much time in passing over again the discoveries made by Sieur de Monts as far as the harbour of Mallebarre.  It would have been much better, in my opinion, to cross from where we were directly to Mallebarre, the route being already known, and then use our time in exploring as far as the fortieth degree, or still farther south, revisiting upon our homeward voyage the entire coast at pleasure.’