LIGHTNING EXPRESS;

OR,

THE RIVAL ACADEMIES.

BY

OLIVER OPTIC,

AUTHOR OF “YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD,” “THE ARMY AND NAVY STORIES,” “THE WOODVILLE STORIES,” “THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES,” “THE STARRY FLAG SERIES,” ETC.

BOSTON:

LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.

NEW YORK:

LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM.

1871.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by

WILLIAM T. ADAMS,

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

ELECTROTYPED AT THE

BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY,

No. 19 Spring Lane.

TO

MY YOUNG FRIEND

JAMES DEWITT CARSON

This Book

IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.

THE LAKE SHORE SERIES.

THROUGH BY DAYLIGHT; or, The Young Engineer of the Lake Shore Railroad.

LIGHTNING EXPRESS; or, The Rival Academies.

ON TIME; or, The Young Captain of the Ucayga Steamer.

SWITCH OFF; or, The War of the Students.

BRAKE UP; or, The Young Peacemakers.

BEAR AND FORBEAR; or, The Young Skipper of Lake Ucayga.