But if you are away--" At this moment Mrs.Cliff was interrupted by the approach of Maka, who wished very much to speak to the captain.

As the negro was not a man who would be likely to interrupt a conversation except for an important reason, the captain followed him to a little distance.

There he found, to his surprise, that although he had left one person to speak to another, the subject was not changed.
"Cap'n," said Maka, "when you go 'way, who's boss ?" The captain frowned, and yet he could not help feeling interested in this anxiety regarding his successor.

"Why do you ask that ?" he said.

"What difference does it make who gives you your orders when I am gone ?" Maka shook his head.