year hung upon the risk that court intrigue would prevail
against the determination of two brave men.

From 1608 till 1611 De Monts had two partners, named
Collier and Legendre, both citizens of Rouen. It was with
the money of these three that the post at Quebec had been
built and equipped. Champlain was their lieutenant and
Pontgrave the commander of their trading ships. After
four years of experience Collier and Legendre found the
results unsatisfactory. 'They were unwilling,' says
Champlain, 'to continue in the association, as there was
no commission forbidding others from going to the new
discoveries and trading with the inhabitants of the
country. Sieur de Monts, seeing this, bargained with them
for what remained at the settlement at Quebec, in
consideration of a sum of money which he gave them for
their share.'

Thus the intrepid De Monts became sole proprietor of the
habitation, and whatever clustered round it, at the foot
of Cape Diamond. But the property was worthless if the
fur trade could not be put on a stable basis. Quebec
during its first three years had been a disappointment
because, contrary to expectation, it gave its founders
no advantage over their competitors which equalled the
cost of maintenance. De Monts was still ready to assist
Champlain in his explorations, but his resources, never
great, were steadily diminishing, and while trade continued
unprofitable there were no funds for exploration. Moreover,
the assassination of Henry IV in 1610 weakened De Monts