diff --git a/include/node.h b/include/node.h
index 5ee1273..9b6eb22 100644
--- a/include/node.h
+++ b/include/node.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace YAML
 		// accessors
 		Iterator begin() const;
 		Iterator end() const;
-		unsigned size() const;
+		std::size_t size() const;
 
 		// extraction of scalars
 		bool GetScalar(std::string& s) const;
@@ -55,19 +55,17 @@ namespace YAML
 		template <typename T>
 		friend void operator >> (const Node& node, T& value);
 
-		// just for maps
+		// retrieval for maps and sequences
 		template <typename T>
 		const Node *FindValue(const T& key) const;
-		const Node *FindValue(const char *key) const;
-		
+
 		template <typename T>
 		const Node& operator [] (const T& key) const;
+		
+		// specific to maps
+		const Node *FindValue(const char *key) const;
 		const Node& operator [] (const char *key) const;
 
-		// just for sequences
-		const Node& operator [] (unsigned u) const;
-		const Node& operator [] (int i) const;
-
 		// for anchors/aliases
 		const Node *Identity() const { return m_pIdentity; }
 		bool IsAlias() const { return m_alias; }
@@ -81,10 +79,17 @@ namespace YAML
 		friend bool operator < (const Node& n1, const Node& n2);
 
 	private:
+		// helper for sequences
+		template <typename, bool> friend struct _FindFromNodeAtIndex;
+		const Node *FindAtIndex(std::size_t i) const;
+		
 		// helper for maps
 		template <typename T>
 		const Node& GetValue(const T& key) const;
-		
+
+		template <typename T>
+		const Node *FindValueForKey(const T& key) const;
+
 		// helpers for parsing
 		void ParseHeader(Scanner *pScanner, const ParserState& state);
 		void ParseTag(Scanner *pScanner, const ParserState& state);
diff --git a/include/nodeimpl.h b/include/nodeimpl.h
index 606a5be..f513fd5 100644
--- a/include/nodeimpl.h
+++ b/include/nodeimpl.h
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 #define NODEIMPL_H_62B23520_7C8E_11DE_8A39_0800200C9A66
 
 
+#include "nodeutil.h"
+
 namespace YAML
 {
 	// implementation of templated things
@@ -31,9 +33,18 @@ namespace YAML
 	
 	template <typename T>
 	inline const Node *Node::FindValue(const T& key) const {
-		if(!m_pContent)
-			return 0;
-		
+		switch(GetType()) {
+			case CT_MAP:
+				return FindValueForKey(key);
+			case CT_SEQUENCE:
+				return FindFromNodeAtIndex(*this, key);
+			default:
+				return 0;
+		}
+	}
+	
+	template <typename T>
+	inline const Node *Node::FindValueForKey(const T& key) const {
 		for(Iterator it=begin();it!=end();++it) {
 			T t;
 			if(it.first().Read(t)) {
@@ -45,24 +56,16 @@ namespace YAML
 		return 0;
 	}
 	
-	inline const Node *Node::FindValue(const char *key) const {
-		return FindValue(std::string(key));
-	}
-	
 	template <typename T>
 	inline const Node& Node::GetValue(const T& key) const {
 		if(!m_pContent)
 			throw BadDereference();
 		
-		for(Iterator it=begin();it!=end();++it) {
-			T t;
-			if(it.first().Read(t)) {
-				if(key == t)
-					return it.second();
-			}
-		}
-		
-		throw MakeTypedKeyNotFound(m_mark, key);
+		const Node *pValue = FindValue(key);
+		if(!pValue)
+			throw MakeTypedKeyNotFound(m_mark, key);
+
+		return *pValue;
 	}
 	
 	template <typename T>
@@ -70,6 +73,10 @@ namespace YAML
 		return GetValue(key);
 	}
 	
+	inline const Node *Node::FindValue(const char *key) const {
+		return FindValue(std::string(key));
+	}
+	
 	inline const Node& Node::operator [] (const char *key) const {
 		return GetValue(std::string(key));
 	}
diff --git a/include/nodeutil.h b/include/nodeutil.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eb2956f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/nodeutil.h
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#ifndef NODEUTIL_H_62B23520_7C8E_11DE_8A39_0800200C9A66
+#define NODEUTIL_H_62B23520_7C8E_11DE_8A39_0800200C9A66
+
+
+namespace YAML
+{
+	template <typename T, typename U>
+	struct is_same_type {
+		enum { value = false };
+	};
+	
+	template <typename T>
+	struct is_same_type<T, T> {
+		enum { value = true };
+	};
+	
+	template <typename T, bool check>
+	struct is_index_type_with_check {
+		enum { value = false };
+	};
+	
+	template <> struct is_index_type_with_check<std::size_t, false> { enum { value = true }; };
+
+#define MAKE_INDEX_TYPE(Type) \
+	template <> struct is_index_type_with_check<Type, is_same_type<Type, std::size_t>::value> { enum { value = true }; }
+	
+	MAKE_INDEX_TYPE(int);
+	MAKE_INDEX_TYPE(unsigned);
+	MAKE_INDEX_TYPE(short);
+	MAKE_INDEX_TYPE(unsigned short);
+	MAKE_INDEX_TYPE(long);
+	MAKE_INDEX_TYPE(unsigned long);
+
+#undef MAKE_INDEX_TYPE;
+	
+	template <typename T>
+	struct is_index_type: public is_index_type_with_check<T, false> {};
+	
+	// messing around with template stuff to get the right overload for operator [] for a sequence
+	template <typename T, bool b>
+	struct _FindFromNodeAtIndex {
+		const Node *pRet;
+		_FindFromNodeAtIndex(const Node&, const T&): pRet(0) {}
+	};
+
+	template <typename T>
+	struct _FindFromNodeAtIndex<T, true> {
+		const Node *pRet;
+		_FindFromNodeAtIndex(const Node& node, const T& key): pRet(node.FindAtIndex(static_cast<std::size_t>(key))) {}
+	};
+
+	template <typename T>
+	inline const Node *FindFromNodeAtIndex(const Node& node, const T& key) {
+		return _FindFromNodeAtIndex<T, is_index_type<T>::value>(node, key).pRet;
+	}
+}
+
+#endif // NODEUTIL_H_62B23520_7C8E_11DE_8A39_0800200C9A66
diff --git a/src/aliascontent.cpp b/src/aliascontent.cpp
index 9f98571..7d49b71 100644
--- a/src/aliascontent.cpp
+++ b/src/aliascontent.cpp
@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ namespace YAML
 		return m_pRef->GetEnd(i);
 	}
 
-	Node* AliasContent::GetNode(unsigned n) const
+	Node* AliasContent::GetNode(std::size_t n) const
 	{
 		return m_pRef->GetNode(n);
 	}
 
-	unsigned AliasContent::GetSize() const
+	std::size_t AliasContent::GetSize() const
 	{
 		return m_pRef->GetSize();
 	}
diff --git a/src/aliascontent.h b/src/aliascontent.h
index e19f1d1..e6448fe 100644
--- a/src/aliascontent.h
+++ b/src/aliascontent.h
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ namespace YAML
 		virtual bool GetBegin(std::map <Node *, Node *, ltnode>::const_iterator&) const;
 		virtual bool GetEnd(std::vector <Node *>::const_iterator&) const;
 		virtual bool GetEnd(std::map <Node *, Node *, ltnode>::const_iterator&) const;
-		virtual Node* GetNode(unsigned) const;
-		virtual unsigned GetSize() const;
+		virtual Node* GetNode(std::size_t) const;
+		virtual std::size_t GetSize() const;
 		virtual bool IsScalar() const;
 		virtual bool IsMap() const;
 		virtual bool IsSequence() const;
diff --git a/src/content.h b/src/content.h
index b9cd311..1574691 100644
--- a/src/content.h
+++ b/src/content.h
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ namespace YAML
 		virtual bool GetBegin(std::map <Node *, Node *, ltnode>::const_iterator&) const { return false; }
 		virtual bool GetEnd(std::vector <Node *>::const_iterator&) const { return false; }
 		virtual bool GetEnd(std::map <Node *, Node *, ltnode>::const_iterator&) const { return false; }
-		virtual Node *GetNode(unsigned) const { return 0; }
-		virtual unsigned GetSize() const { return 0; }
+		virtual Node *GetNode(std::size_t) const { return 0; }
+		virtual std::size_t GetSize() const { return 0; }
 		virtual bool IsScalar() const { return false; }
 		virtual bool IsMap() const { return false; }
 		virtual bool IsSequence() const { return false; }
diff --git a/src/conversion.cpp b/src/conversion.cpp
index 904efb0..fa199bb 100644
--- a/src/conversion.cpp
+++ b/src/conversion.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ namespace
 	template <typename T>
 	bool IsEntirely(const std::string& str, T func)
 	{
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<str.size();i++)
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<str.size();i++)
 			if(!func(str[i]))
 				return false;
 
diff --git a/src/emitterutils.cpp b/src/emitterutils.cpp
index 907e78c..694b961 100644
--- a/src/emitterutils.cpp
+++ b/src/emitterutils.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ namespace YAML
 		bool WriteSingleQuotedString(ostream& out, const std::string& str)
 		{
 			out << "'";
-			for(unsigned i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
+			for(std::size_t i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
 				char ch = str[i];
 				if(!IsPrintable(ch))
 					return false;
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ namespace YAML
 		bool WriteDoubleQuotedString(ostream& out, const std::string& str)
 		{
 			out << "\"";
-			for(unsigned i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
+			for(std::size_t i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
 				char ch = str[i];
 				if(IsPrintable(ch)) {
 					if(ch == '\"')
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ namespace YAML
 		{
 			out << "|\n";
 			out << IndentTo(indent);
-			for(unsigned i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
+			for(std::size_t i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
 				if(str[i] == '\n')
 					out << "\n" << IndentTo(indent);
 				else
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ namespace YAML
 		{
 			unsigned curIndent = out.col();
 			out << "#" << Indentation(postCommentIndent);
-			for(unsigned i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
+			for(std::size_t i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
 				if(str[i] == '\n')
 					out << "\n" << IndentTo(curIndent) << "#" << Indentation(postCommentIndent);
 				else
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ namespace YAML
 		bool WriteAlias(ostream& out, const std::string& str)
 		{
 			out << "*";
-			for(unsigned i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
+			for(std::size_t i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
 				if(!IsPrintable(str[i]) || str[i] == ' ' || str[i] == '\t' || str[i] == '\n' || str[i] == '\r')
 					return false;
 				
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ namespace YAML
 		bool WriteAnchor(ostream& out, const std::string& str)
 		{
 			out << "&";
-			for(unsigned i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
+			for(std::size_t i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
 				if(!IsPrintable(str[i]) || str[i] == ' ' || str[i] == '\t' || str[i] == '\n' || str[i] == '\r')
 					return false;
 				
diff --git a/src/exp.cpp b/src/exp.cpp
index 028b7d7..bbb294f 100644
--- a/src/exp.cpp
+++ b/src/exp.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ namespace YAML
 		unsigned ParseHex(const std::string& str, const Mark& mark)
 		{
 			unsigned value = 0;
-			for(unsigned i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
+			for(std::size_t i=0;i<str.size();i++) {
 				char ch = str[i];
 				int digit = 0;
 				if('a' <= ch && ch <= 'f')
diff --git a/src/node.cpp b/src/node.cpp
index a2230d9..165f822 100644
--- a/src/node.cpp
+++ b/src/node.cpp
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ namespace YAML
 
 		m_tag = state.TranslateTag(token.value);
 
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<token.params.size();i++)
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<token.params.size();i++)
 			m_tag += token.params[i];
 		pScanner->pop();
 	}
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ namespace YAML
 	// size
 	// . Returns the size of this node, if it's a sequence node.
 	// . Otherwise, returns zero.
-	unsigned Node::size() const
+	std::size_t Node::size() const
 	{
 		if(!m_pContent)
 			return 0;
@@ -217,28 +217,12 @@ namespace YAML
 		return m_pContent->GetSize();
 	}
 
-	const Node& Node::operator [] (unsigned u) const
+	const Node *Node::FindAtIndex(std::size_t i) const
 	{
 		if(!m_pContent)
-			throw BadDereference();
-
-		Node *pNode = m_pContent->GetNode(u);
-		if(pNode)
-			return *pNode;
-
-		return GetValue(u);
-	}
-
-	const Node& Node::operator [] (int i) const
-	{
-		if(!m_pContent)
-			throw BadDereference();
-
-		Node *pNode = m_pContent->GetNode(i);
-		if(pNode)
-			return *pNode;
-
-		return GetValue(i);
+			return 0;
+		
+		return m_pContent->GetNode(i);
 	}
 
 	bool Node::GetScalar(std::string& s) const
diff --git a/src/ostream.cpp b/src/ostream.cpp
index 9f75684..463a450 100644
--- a/src/ostream.cpp
+++ b/src/ostream.cpp
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ namespace YAML
 
 	ostream& operator << (ostream& out, const char *str)
 	{
-		unsigned length = std::strlen(str);
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<length;i++)
+		std::size_t length = std::strlen(str);
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<length;i++)
 			out.put(str[i]);
 		return out;
 	}
diff --git a/src/regex.cpp b/src/regex.cpp
index d26cdb6..7c3f8f5 100644
--- a/src/regex.cpp
+++ b/src/regex.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ namespace YAML
 	
 	RegEx::RegEx(const std::string& str, REGEX_OP op): m_op(op)
 	{
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<str.size();i++)
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<str.size();i++)
 			m_params.push_back(RegEx(str[i]));
 	}
 	
diff --git a/src/regeximpl.h b/src/regeximpl.h
index a17d76c..41a052e 100644
--- a/src/regeximpl.h
+++ b/src/regeximpl.h
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ namespace YAML
 	// OrOperator
 	template <typename Source>
 	inline int RegEx::MatchOpOr(const Source& source) const {
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<m_params.size();i++) {
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<m_params.size();i++) {
 			int n = m_params[i].MatchUnchecked(source);
 			if(n >= 0)
 				return n;
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ namespace YAML
 	template <typename Source>
 	inline int RegEx::MatchOpAnd(const Source& source) const {
 		int first = -1;
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<m_params.size();i++) {
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<m_params.size();i++) {
 			int n = m_params[i].MatchUnchecked(source);
 			if(n == -1)
 				return -1;
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ namespace YAML
 	template <typename Source>
 	inline int RegEx::MatchOpSeq(const Source& source) const {
 		int offset = 0;
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<m_params.size();i++) {
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<m_params.size();i++) {
 			int n = m_params[i].Match(source + offset); // note Match, not MatchUnchecked because we need to check validity after the offset
 			if(n == -1)
 				return -1;
diff --git a/src/scanscalar.cpp b/src/scanscalar.cpp
index b4e33f7..76406ef 100644
--- a/src/scanscalar.cpp
+++ b/src/scanscalar.cpp
@@ -136,13 +136,13 @@ namespace YAML
 
 		// post-processing
 		if(params.trimTrailingSpaces) {
-			unsigned pos = scalar.find_last_not_of(' ');
+			std::size_t pos = scalar.find_last_not_of(' ');
 			if(pos < scalar.size())
 				scalar.erase(pos + 1);
 		}
 
 		if(params.chomp <= 0) {
-			unsigned pos = scalar.find_last_not_of('\n');
+			std::size_t pos = scalar.find_last_not_of('\n');
 			if(params.chomp == 0 && pos + 1 < scalar.size())
 				scalar.erase(pos + 2);
 			else if(params.chomp == -1 && pos < scalar.size())
diff --git a/src/sequence.cpp b/src/sequence.cpp
index ad49fe3..70ca5bb 100644
--- a/src/sequence.cpp
+++ b/src/sequence.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace YAML
 
 	void Sequence::Clear()
 	{
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<m_data.size();i++)
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<m_data.size();i++)
 			delete m_data[i];
 		m_data.clear();
 	}
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ namespace YAML
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	Node *Sequence::GetNode(unsigned i) const
+	Node *Sequence::GetNode(std::size_t i) const
 	{
 		if(i < m_data.size())
 			return m_data[i];
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	unsigned Sequence::GetSize() const
+	std::size_t Sequence::GetSize() const
 	{
 		return m_data.size();
 	}
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ namespace YAML
 	void Sequence::Write(Emitter& out) const
 	{
 		out << BeginSeq;
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<m_data.size();i++)
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<m_data.size();i++)
 			out << *m_data[i];
 		out << EndSeq;
 	}
@@ -157,13 +157,13 @@ namespace YAML
 
 	int Sequence::Compare(Sequence *pSeq)
 	{
-		unsigned n = m_data.size(), m = pSeq->m_data.size();
+		std::size_t n = m_data.size(), m = pSeq->m_data.size();
 		if(n < m)
 			return -1;
 		else if(n > m)
 			return 1;
 
-		for(unsigned i=0;i<n;i++) {
+		for(std::size_t i=0;i<n;i++) {
 			int cmp = m_data[i]->Compare(*pSeq->m_data[i]);
 			if(cmp != 0)
 				return cmp;
diff --git a/src/sequence.h b/src/sequence.h
index c7e0828..f158882 100644
--- a/src/sequence.h
+++ b/src/sequence.h
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ namespace YAML
 		void Clear();
 		virtual bool GetBegin(std::vector <Node *>::const_iterator& it) const;
 		virtual bool GetEnd(std::vector <Node *>::const_iterator& it) const;
-		virtual Node *GetNode(unsigned i) const;
-		virtual unsigned GetSize() const;
+		virtual Node *GetNode(std::size_t i) const;
+		virtual std::size_t GetSize() const;
 
 		virtual void Parse(Scanner *pScanner, const ParserState& state);
 		virtual void Write(Emitter& out) const;
diff --git a/src/token.h b/src/token.h
index 3c5fb58..060861a 100644
--- a/src/token.h
+++ b/src/token.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ namespace YAML
 
 		friend std::ostream& operator << (std::ostream& out, const Token& token) {
 			out << TokenNames[token.type] << std::string(": ") << token.value;
-			for(unsigned i=0;i<token.params.size();i++)
+			for(std::size_t i=0;i<token.params.size();i++)
 				out << std::string(" ") << token.params[i];
 			return out;
 		}