For a moment stupefaction held the crowd silent, then a deep growl went up from the masses who were being dispersed by the Zarps. At this instant Ned Romer felt a touch on his arm, and, looking round, he saw Philip Martin at his side. "This ultimatum has changed our plans," he whispered, as he drew the three friends out of the crowd. "The English Government will now decide the question, and we must do nothing inside the Transvaal to disturb their plans. Our orders are now to clear out before this ultimatum expires, and give Oom Paul no excuse for his next step." Philip Martin was gloomy, and the faces of our heroes also fell considerably. "And are we to do nothing, Philip, after all our preparations?" asked Ned, in a disappointed tone. "Nothing inside the Transvaal. Our work will be outside, and there will be lots to do there, you take my word. We must follow the example of the Jews, and skedaddle if we can, before the lines are closed. Johannesburg must be left for the present, until we can come back with the British army. Tomorrow Natal and Cape Colony will be invaded, and then England can no longer hold back. I am off to join Baden-Powell, at Mafeking. Dr Jim has gone to Ladysmith, and you three fellows are to proceed to Kimberley, where you will find Mr Cecil Rhodes. It is a bit disappointing, I will allow; but this is going to be a bigger and a more complete affair than we could have accomplished, therefore we must be content to leave it to the proper hands to clear the board." Philip Martin shook hands with them, and walked quickly away to warn others of his own party, while our heroes prepared for their exodus. CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. THE RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY. This most inhuman and bloody-minded Kruger, who misquoted Scripture, as he so often did, considered himself safe to order his victims to their empty tents. He had stripped them, as he fondly thought, of all means of protecting their wives and children. As he imagined, they had only their naked fists to support their manhood against his armed hordes; therefore he could be as bold as a bushranger who has bailed up a household. He had them, or, as he impiously remarked, "The Lord of the Boer hosts has put them into our hands, even as He gave the Amalekites up to the vengeance of Israel." To those who were not in the "know," the Jew dealers and other aliens, who had no patriotic interest in the land, this ultimatum fell like the first ashes of Vesuvius upon Pompeii. It was definite, clear, and curtailed. They had either to join in and fight with the Boers, or else be treated with those who stood for English authority.