Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) [Illustration: Starry Flag Series Oliver Optic] [Illustration: ERNEST SWIMS FOR THE DESPATCH BARREL.--Page 270] SEEK AND FIND; OR, THE ADVENTURES OF A SMART BOY. BY OLIVER OPTIC, AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES," "THE WOODVILLE STORIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES," "THE RIVERDALE STORIES," ETC. BOSTON LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. COPYRIGHT, 1895, BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS. _All rights reserved._ SEEK AND FIND. =TO= My Young Friend, _ALICE LEE GOOKIN_, =This Book= IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. PREFACE. "SEEK AND FIND" is the third of the serial stories published in "OUR BOYS AND GIRLS," where it appeared as the sequel of "BREAKING AWAY." The author had no more reason to complain of its reception than of that accorded to its predecessors; and he returns his sincere thanks to all those young friends who have written hundreds of letters to him, containing the most generous commendation, with an occasional criticism, which was by no means unwelcome. Ernest Thornton is a smart boy--perhaps he is too smart; but his smartness is not worldly cunning; it is made up of those elements of character which constitute a noble and true man--good judgment, quick perception, and manly decision, mingled with those moral and religious attributes which are the leading springs of the true life. If some of the hero's actions are doubtful, his motives are always good. The greatest crime against the moral law is to be without a high aim; and while a thousand errors and short-comings may be forgiven, the want of a good intention is the capital sin which may not be pardoned. While we cannot ask or expect all young men to accomplish what Ernest Thornton did, we may point to his high aims and good intentions, and say to the reader, "Go thou and do likewise." HARRISON SQUARE, MASS., November 29, 1867. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE IN WHICH ERNEST THORNTON BECOMES ACQUAINTED WITH MISS KATE LORAINE 11 CHAPTER II. IN WHICH ERNEST LISTENS TO THE STORY OF MISS KATE LORAINE 22 CHAPTER III. IN WHICH ERNEST CALLS UPON MRS. LORAINE 33 CHAPTER IV. IN WHICH ERNEST RELEASES THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN FROM HER PRISON 44 CHAPTER V. IN WHICH ERNEST IS AWAKENED BY A LOUD KNOCKING 56