Following him was a sailor with a tray, on which were a bottle of rum and a glass, some cold pork, ship's biscuits, butter, and sundry other eatables, as well as knives and forks. He placed the tray upon the sea chest and then withdrew.
"Halloa! hors de combat?" said Sims, thinking St. Just's position due to mal de mer. "You'll get used to the sea in a day or two, and then you'll be all right."
St. Just sat up, his eyes blinking in the lamp light.
"It's not sea sickness I'm suffering from," he laughed, "but cabin sickness. The appointments here can scarcely be called luxurious, and I find my own company the reverse of cheerful."
"Anything else you want?" asked Sims who, St. Just thought, seemed a pleasant, hearty fellow.
St. Just laughed again. "Now what a question to ask a prisoner," he said.
"Well, I'd give you your liberty, old fellow, if I could; but short of that?"
"You are very good. To begin with then, what I most want is a change of clothing and a pipe."
"The last I can manage on the spot; as to the first, I'll talk to the Captain about it, and we'll see what we can do."
He put his hand into his pocket and brought out his own pipe and some tobacco, and these he handed to the captive.