go Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
His duty obliged him to give up his discoveries and 
return to the sordid work of loading the ships with black 
stones. On the 28th July the Aid was forced through 
the pack into the Countess of Warwick's Sound, other 
ships following, and the miners set to work collecting 
th eir rubbish. The first part of the voyage was com- 
pleted, and many dangers had been overcome, difficulties 
encountered, and experience in ice navigation gained. 
A solemn service of thanksgiving was held. The chaplain 
was Master Wolf all, a patriotic clergyman who had given 
up a good living to serve his country in a dangerous 
enterprise. He now preached an eloquent sermon of 
thanksgiving and encouragement, shortly afterwards ad- 
ministering the Sacrament to the crews on shore. 
Autumn was approaching. The Thomas of Ipswich 
had already deserted. As half the timber intended for 
the fort was lost in the Dennis it was resolved that the 
idea of a colony must be abandoned. The ships were 
accordingly loaded and began the return voyage. Before 
their arrival, however, it had at last been discovered that 
the stones were worthless. The bubble burst, the share- 
holders had to pay, and Frobisher for a time was reduced 
to poverty. But the great Queen knew his worth, and 
did not lose sight of him. 
Frobisher had many good and loyal comrades in his 
Arctic voyages. First and foremost was George Best, 
who wrote the narrative of the voyage ; next Christopher 
Hall, a fine seaman but not equally loyal ; Edward 
Fenton, who afterwards served against the Spanish 
Armada; Gilbert Yorke, who did good service afterwards 
in the West Indies, his Arctic service standing him in 
good stead ; and Charles Jackman, pilot of the Aid, an 
excellent and loyal officer who lost his life, as already 
recorded, in the North-east Passage enterprise with Arthur 
Pet. 
The provisions supplied for Frobisher's voyages were 
sufficient if they were good of their kind. They con- 
sisted of biscuit (16 tons for five months for 115 men), 
meal 30 tons, beer, wine, salt beef and pork, peas, 
stock-fish, butter, cheese, oatmeal, rice (a small quantity), 
raisins, almonds, and liquorice, sea coal 30 tons, wood 
14 tons, and charcoal. The whole was in 240 barrels of 
