// Precondition: checkInitialization has been called.
private int locate(int index, K key)
{
   boolean found = false;

   while ( !found && (hashTable[index] != null) )
   {
      if ( hashTable[index].isIn() && key.equals(hashTable[index].getKey()) )
         found = true; // Key found
      else             // Follow probe sequence
         index = (index + 1) % hashTable.length;         // Linear probing
   } // end while
   // Assertion: Either key or null is found at hashTable[index]

   int result = -1;
   if (found)
      result = index;

   return result;
} // end locate
// Version 4.0