diff options
Diffstat (limited to '17398.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 17398.txt | 725 |
1 files changed, 725 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/17398.txt b/17398.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6c6916 --- /dev/null +++ b/17398.txt @@ -0,0 +1,725 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cabman's Story, by Arthur Conan Doyle + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Cabman's Story + The Mysteries of a London 'Growler' + +Author: Arthur Conan Doyle + +Release Date: December 26, 2005 [EBook #17398] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CABMAN'S STORY *** + + + +Produced by Darlene A. Cypser + + + + + +THE CABMAN'S STORY + + +The Mysteries of a London "Growler" + +We had to take a "growler," for the day looked rather threatening and +we agreed that it would be a very bad way of beginning our holiday by +getting wet, especially when Fanny was only just coming round from +the whooping cough. Holidays were rather scarce with us, and when we +took one we generally arranged some little treat, and went in for +enjoying ourselves. On this occasion we were starting off from +Hammersmith to the Alexandra Palace in all the dignity of a +four-wheeler. What with the wife and her sister, and Tommy and Fanny +and Jack, the inside was pretty well filled up, so I had to look out +for myself. I didn't adopt the plan of John Gilpin under similar +circumstances, but I took my waterproof and climbed up beside the +driver. + +This driver was a knowing-looking old veteran, with a weather-beaten +face and white side whiskers. It has always seemed to me that a London +cabman is about the shrewdest of the human race, but this specimen +struck me as looking like the shrewdest of the cabmen. I tried to draw +him out a bit as we jogged along, for I am always fond of a chat; but +he was a bit rusty until I oiled his tongue with glass of gin when we +got as far as the "Green Anchor." Then he rattled away quickly enough, +and some of what he said is worth trying to put down in black and white. + +"Wouldn't a hansom pay me better?" he said, in answer to a question +of mine. "Why, of course it would. But look at the position! A +four-wheeler's a respectable conveyance, and the driver of it's a +respectable man, but you can't say that of a rattling, splashing +'ansom. Any boy would do for that job. Now, to my mind money hain't +to be compared to position, whatever a man's trade may be." + +"Certainly not!" I answered. + +"Besides, I've saved my little penny, and I'm got too old to change +my ways. I've begun on a growler, and I'll end on one. If you'll +believe me, sir, I've been on the streets for seven-and-forty year." + +"That's a long time," I said. + +"Well, it's long for our trade," he replied. "You see, there +ain't no other in the world that takes the steam out of a man so quickly-- +what with wet and cold and late hours, and maybe no hours at all. There's +few that lasts at it as long as I have." + +"You must have seen a deal of the world during that time," I +remarked. "There are few men who can have greater opportunities of +seeing life." + +"The world!" he grunted, flicking up the horse with his whip. "I've +seen enough of it to be well-nigh sick of it. As to life, if you'd +said death, you'd ha' been nearer the mark." + +"Death!" I ejaculated. + +"Yes, death," he said. "Why, bless your soul, sir, if I was to write +down all I've seen since I've been in the trade, there's not a man +in London would believe me, unless maybe some o' the other cabbies. +I tell ye I took a dead man for a fare once, and drove about with him +nigh half the night. Oh, you needn't look shocked, sir, for this +wasn't the cab--no, nor the last one I had neither." + +"How did it happen?" I asked, feeling glad, in spite of his +assurance, that Matilda had not heard of the episode. + +"Well, it's an old story now," said the driver, putting a small piece +of very black tobacco into the corner of his mouth. "I daresay it's +twenty odd years since it happened, but it's not the kind o' thing as +slips out of a man's memory. It was very late one night, and I was +working my hardest to pick up something good, for I'd made a poor +day's work of it. The theatres had all come out, and though I kept +up and down the Strand till nigh one o'clock, I got nothing but one +eighteenpenny job. I was thinking of giving it up and going home, +when it struck me that I might as well make a bit of a circuit, and +see if I couldn't drop across something. Pretty soon I gave a +gentleman a lift as far as the Oxford Road, and then I drove through +St. John's Wood on my way home. By that time it would be about +half-past one, and the streets were quite quiet and deserted, for the +night was cloudy and it was beginning to rain. I was putting on the +pace as well as my tired beast would go, for we both wanted to get +back to our suppers, when I heard a woman's voice hail me out of a +side street. I turned back, and there in about the darkest part of +the road was standing two ladies--real ladies, mind you, for it +would take a deal of darkness before I would mistake one for the +other. One was elderly and stoutish; the other was young, and had a +veil over her face. Between them there was a man in evening dress, +whom they were supporting on each side, while his back was propped up +against a lamp-post. He seemed beyond taking care of himself +altogether, for his head was sunk down on his chest, and he'd have +fallen if they hadn't held him. + +"'Cabman,' said the stout lady, with a very shaky voice, 'I wish you +would help us in this painful business.' Those were her very +hidentical words. + +"'Cert'nly, mum,' I says for I saw my way to a good thing. 'What +can I do for the young lady and yourself?' I mentioned the other +in order to console her like, for she was sobbing behind her veil +something pitiful. + +"'The fact is, cabman,' she answers, 'this gentleman is my daughter's +husband. They have only just been married, and we are visiting at a +friend's house near here. My son-in-law has just returned in a state +of complete intoxication, and my daughter and I have brought him out +in the hope of seeing a cab in which we could send him home, for we +have most particular reasons for not wishing our friends to see him +in this state, and as yet they are ignorant of it. If you would +drive him to his house and leave him there, you would do us both a +very great kindness, and we can easily account to our hosts for his +absence.' + +"I thought this rather a rum start, but I agreed, and no sooner had +I said the word than the old one she pulls open the door, and she and +the other, without waiting for me to bear a hand, bundled him in +between them. + +"'Where to?' I asked. + +"'Forty-seven, Orange Grove, Clapham,' she said. 'Hoffman is the +name. You'll easily waken the servants.' + +"'And how about the fare?' I suggested, for I thought maybe there +might be a difficulty in collecting it at the end of the journey. + +"'Here it is,' said the young one, slipping what I felt to be a +sovereign into my hand, and at the same time giving it a sort of a +grateful squeeze, which made me feel as if I'd drive anywhere to +get her out of trouble. + +"Well, off I went, leaving them standing by the side of the road. +The horse was well-nigh beat, but at last I found my way to 47, +Orange Grove. It was a biggish house, and all quiet, as you may +suppose, at that hour. I rang the bell, and at last down came a +servant--a man, he was. + +"'I've got the master here,' I said. + +"'Got who?' he asked. + +"'Why Mr. Hoffman--your master. He's in the cab, not quite +himself. This is number forty-seven, ain't it?' + +"'Yes, it's forty-seven, right enough; but my master's Captain +Ritchie, and he's away in India, so you've got the wrong house.' + +"'That was the number they gave me,' I said, 'But maybe he's come to +himself by this time, and can give us some information. He was dead +drunk an hour ago.' + +"Down we went to the cab, the two of us, and opened the door. He had +slipped off the seat and was lying all in a heap on the floor. + +"'Now, then, sir,' I shouted. 'Wake up and give us your address.' + +"He didn't answer. + +"I gave another shake. 'Pull yourself together,' I roared. 'Give us +your name, and tell us where you live.' + +"He didn't answer again. I couldn't even hear the sound of +breathing. Then a kind of queer feeling came over me, and I put +down my hand and felt his face. It was as cold as lead. The cove's +dead, mate,' I said. + +"The servant struck a match, and we had a look at my passenger. +He was a young, good-looking fellow, but his face wore an +expression of pain, and his jaw hung down. He was evidently not +only dead, but had been dead some time. + +"'What shall we do?' said the flunkey. He was as white as death +himself, and his hair bristled with fear. + +"'I'll drive to the nearest police station,' I answered; and so I +did, leaving him shivering on the pavement. There I gave up my fare, +and that was the last I ever saw of him." + +"Did you never hear any more of it?" I asked. + +"Hear! I thought I should never hear the end of it, what with +examinations and inquests and one thing and another. The doctors +proved that he must have been dead at the time he was shoved into +the cab. Just before the inquest four little blue spots came out +on one side of his neck, and one on the other, and they said only +a woman's hand could have fitted over them, so they brought in a +verdict of willful murder; but, bless you, they had managed it so +neatly that there was not a clue to the women, nor to the man either, +for everything by which he might have been identified had been +removed from his pockets. The police were fairly puzzled by that +case. I've always thought what a bit o' luck it was that I got my +fare, for I wouldn't have had much chance of it if it hadn't been +paid in advance." + +My friend the driver began to get very husky about the throat at this +stage of the proceedings, and slackened his speed very noticeably as +we approached a large public-house, so that I felt constrained to +offer him another gin, which he graciously accepted. The ladies had +some wine, too, and I followed the example of my companion on the +box, so that we all started refreshed. + +"The police and me's been mixed up a good deal," continued the +veteran resuming his reminiscences: "They took the best customer I +ever had away from me. I'd have made my fortin if they'd let him +carry on his little game a while longer." + +Here, with the coquetry of one who knows that his words are of +interest, the driver began to look around him with an air of +abstraction and to comment upon the weather. + +"Well, what about your customer and the police?" I asked. + +"It's not much to tell," he said, coming back to his subject. "One +morning I was driving across Vauxhall Bridge when I was hailed by a +crooked old man with a pair of spectacles on, who was standing at +the Middlesex end, with a big leather bag in his hand. 'Drive anywhere +you like,' he said; 'only don't drive fast for I'm getting old, and +it shakes me to pieces.' He jumped in, and shut himself up, closing +the windows, and I trotted about with him for three hours, before he +let me know that he had had enough. When I stopped, out he hopped +with his big bag in his hand. + +"'I say cabbie!' he said, after he had paid his fare. + +"'Yes, sir,' said I, touching my hat. + +"'You seem to be a decent sort of fellow, and you don't go in the +break-neck way of some of your kind. I don't mind giving you the +same job every day. The doctors recommend gentle exercise of the +sort, and you may as well drive me as another. Just pick me up at +the same place tomorrow.' + +"Well, to make a long story short, I used to find the little man in +his place every morning, always with his black bag, and for nigh +on to four months never a day passed without his having his three +hours' drive and paying his fare like a man at the end of it. I +shifted into new quarters on the strength of it, and was able to buy +a new set of harness. I don't say as I altogether swallowed the +story of the doctors having recommended him on a hot day to go about +in a growler with both windows up. However, it's a bad thing in this +world to be too knowing, so though I own I felt a bit curious at +times, I never put myself out o' the way to find out what the little +game was. One day, I was driving tap to my usual place of dropping +him--for by this time we had got into the way of going a regular +beat every morning--when I saw a policeman waiting, with a perky +sort of look about him, as if he had some job on hand. When the +cab stopped out jumped the little man with his bag right into the +arms of the 'bobby.' + +"'I arrest you, John Malone,' says the policeman. + +"'On what charge?' he answers as cool as a turnip. + +"'On the charge of forging Bank of England notes,' says the 'bobby'. + +"'Oh, then the game is up!' he cries, and with that he pulls off his +spectacles, and his wig and whiskers, and there he was, as smart a +young fellow as you'd wish to see. + +"'Good-bye, cabby,' he cried, as they led him off, and that was the +last I saw of him, marching along between two of them, and another +behind with the bag." + +"And why did he take a cab?" I asked, much interested. + +"Well, you see, he had all his plant for making the notes in that +bag. If he were to lock himself up in his lodging several hours a +day it would soon set people wondering, to say nothing of the chance +of eyes at the window or key-hole. Again, you see, if he took a +house all on his own hook, without servant nor anyone, it would look +queer. So he made up his mind as the best way of working it was to +carry it on in a closed cab, and I don't know that he wasn't right. +He was known to the police however, and that was how they spotted +him. Drat that van! It was as near as a touch to my off-wheel. + +"Bless you, if I was to tell you all the thieves and burglars, and +even murderers, as have been in my growler one time or another, you'd +think I'd given the whole Newgate Calendar a lift, though to be sure +this young chap as I spoke of was the only one as ever reg'lar set up +in business there. There was one though as I reckon to be worse than +all the others put together, if he was what I think him to be. It's +often laid heavy on my mind that I didn't have that chap collared +before it was too late, for I might have saved some mischief. It was +about ten years ago--I never was a good hand for dates--that I +picked up a stout-built sailor-sort of fellow, with a reddish +moustache, who wanted to be taken down to the docks. After this chap +as I told you of had taken such liberties with the premises I'd had a +little bit of a glass slit let in in front here--the same that your +little boy's flattening his nose against at this moment--so as I +could prevent any such games in the future, and have an idea, +whenever I wished, of what was going on inside. Well, something or +another about this sailor fellow made me suspicious of him, and I +took a look at what he was after. He was sitting on the seat, sir, +with a big lump o' coal in his lap, and was a looking at it most +attentive. Now this seemed to me rather a rum start, so I kept on +watching of him, for as you'll see, my window's not a very large one, +and it's easier to see through it than to be seen. Well, he pulls a +spring or something, and out jumps one of the sides of this bit of +coal, and then I saw it was really a hollow box, painted, you see, +and made rough so as to look like the other. I couldn't make head or +tail of it anyhow, and indeed I'd pretty near forgot all about it +when there came news of the explosion at Bemerhaven, and people began +to talk about coal torpedoes. Then I knew as in all probability I'd +carried the man who managed the business, and I gave word to the +police, but they never could make anything of it. You know what a coal +torpedo is, don't you? Well, you see, a cove insures his ship for +more than its value, and then off he goes and makes a box like a bit +o'coal, and fills it chock full with dynamite, or some other cowardly +stuff of the sort. He drops this box among the other coals on the quay +when the vessel is filling her bunkers, and then in course of time +box is shoveled on to the furnaces, when of course the whole ship is +blown sky high. They say there's many a good ship gone to the bottom +like that." + +"You've certainly had some queer experiences," I said. + +"Why bless you!" remarked the driver, "I've hardly got fairly +started yet, and here we are at the 'Alexandry.' I could tell you +many another story as strange as these--and true, mind ye, true as +Gospel. If ever your missus looks in need of a breath of fresh air +you send round for me--Copper Street, number ninety-four--and +I'll give her a turn into the country, and if you'll come up beside +me on the box, I'll tell you a good deal that may surprise you. But +there's your little lad a hollering to you like mad, and the wife +wants to get out, and the other one's a tapping at the window with a +parasol. Take care how you get down, sir! That's right! Don't +forget number ninety-four! Good-day missus! Good-day, sir!" And +the growler rumbled heavily away until I lost sight both of it and of +its communicative driver among the crowd of holiday-makers who +thronged the road which led to the Palace. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Cabman's Story, by Arthur Conan Doyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CABMAN'S STORY *** + +***** This file should be named 17398.txt or 17398.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/3/9/17398/ + +Produced by Darlene A. Cypser + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |