My Lodging It Is On the Cold Ground
"That governor knew more than he was tellin'."
"I'm aware of that, Jack. But I can hardly arrest the governor of Carolina. If he says he knows nothing about Teach, we'll just have to find him ourselves."
"And who better than a pirate to find a pirate?"
James refrained from pointing out that Jack was now a privateer. "Just so. Now, pirate, neither the Dauntless nor the Pearl can navigate this inlet. We could send Groves in one of the boats-"
"But where's the fun in that?" They shared a long, conniving look.
Which is how they came to be sailing a small boat in a growing wind, under a flat and leaden sky.
"Looks like snow."
"How would you know? Have you ever even seen snow?"
"I've seen all kinds of things I haven't seen fit to share with you, Commodore."
To James' irritation, it did indeed start snowing -- big white flakes that sparkled in Jack's hair and clung to his long lashes. The wind drove the boat further into the inlet, forcing them to seek shelter until the snowstorm had passed.
Jack found the hole. It was barely large enough for a man to crawl through, but inside, the cave was wide enough for the two of them to sit comfortably. The walls were covered with soft green moss and small ferns grew in the corners of the cavern. James wondered if perhaps there was a hot spring somewhere nearby.
"So you've seen snow. In England? Or in the colonies?"
Jack kicked his boots off and stretched out his legs. "That's for me to know and you to find out."
"What cost knowledge?"
His wicked grin warmed James to the bone. "Make me an offer, James. . .I'm sure we can come to an accommodation."
o-o-o
Notes: Edward Teach was the pirate more commonly known as Blackbeard. Governor Eden of the Carolina colony is thought to have shared in Teach's treasure in exchange for a pardon.
