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