Dave Porter and His Rivals

In Short

Edward Stratemeyer’s 1911 boarding school novel follows the upright, brave-hearted Dave Porter as he returns for another term at Oak Hall. Alongside his loyal circle of friends, Dave navigates bitter rivalries with former classmates, high-stakes athletics on the football gridiron and ice rink, and petty pranks aimed at strict instructors. When his former enemies escalate their malice from mere schoolyard spites to an outright abduction and framing plot, Dave must rely on his quick thinking, moral courage, and steady companions to overcome the danger and clear his name.

The Story

The story opens as Dave Porter and his close companions enjoy the final days of their autumn break in Crumville. While out driving, their peaceful outing is interrupted by a near-collision with a speeding automobile driven by their arrogant acquaintance Nat Poole and a trio of former school troublemakers: Pete Barnaby, Link Merwell, and Nick Jasniff. After a sharp confrontation on the road, Dave learns that Jasniff and Merwell have been expelled or turned away from Oak Hall and are now enrolled at Rockville Military Academy, a rival institution. Upon returning to Oak Hall, Dave and his chums re-establish their routines, balancing rigorous studies with athletic pursuits, secret society initiations, and lighthearted pranks aimed at the unpopular, rigid master, Mr. Job Haskers.

Trouble brews as the inter-school hostility intensifies. Nat Poole attempts to organize rival factions within Oak Hall, while Merwell and Jasniff harbor deep grudges from their past defeats. They sabotage Dave’s rowboat at Bush Island, leaving him and his friends stranded until they manage to drain the vessel and row back late, narrowly escaping severe punishment. Later, during a major football match between Oak Hall and Lemington, internal division and poor play lead to an early setback. However, when Dave and his chums return to the lineup for subsequent matches—including a fierce showdown against Rockville Military Academy—their teamwork leads Oak Hall to victory.

As winter sets in, the rivalry turns dangerous. During a snowstorm outing, Dave risks his life to rescue a fellow student trapped in a deep snow hole. Shortly thereafter, Jasniff and Merwell conspire with a shady garage worker named Shime and a disgraced doctor, Hooker Montgomery, to kidnap Dave. Dosing him with drugs, they abduct him in a speeding motorcar with a malicious scheme to transport him to a nearby town, break into a jewelry factory, and leave the unconscious boy at the scene of the crime to frame him for burglary.

Dave regains consciousness in the back of the car and feigns weakness while observing his captors. Seizing an opportunity, he escapes his captors' immediate clutches at an isolated stone house. Returning to safety, Dave joins his friends for a decisive hockey match against Nat Poole's squad, where fair play triumphs over foul tactics. Investigating the abduction, Dave tracks down Doctor Montgomery, who confesses the full scope of the malicious plot out of fear and desperation. Dave and his friends march to confront Merwell and Jasniff at a relative's house, only to find the cowardly pair have fled the town entirely. With his reputation intact and his enemies scattered, Dave closes the term surrounded by his steadfast chums, looking forward to future adventures.

How It Unfolds

The near-miss on the road While out on an automobile excursion with their female friends, Dave Porter and his companions are nearly run down by a speeding car containing Nat Poole, Nick Jasniff, and Link Merwell. A heated argument breaks out, during which Jasniff and Merwell reveal they have enrolled at Rockville Military Academy, Oak Hall’s fierce rival.

Stranded on Bush Island After returning to school, Dave, Roger, and Phil take a rowboat out to Bush Island, where they discover their boat has been sunk with heavy stones by Merwell and Jasniff. Dave carefully clears the rocks to float the vessel, allowing them to row back just in time to face the suspicious inquiries of teacher Job Haskers.

The midnight earthquake prank Seeking revenge on the harsh assistant teacher Job Haskers, the boys rig his bed with cords to shake it in the middle of the night, convincing him an earthquake is occurring. Panic-stricken, Haskers climbs down a rope in his pajamas and gets caught outside by the school driver.

Victory on the gridiron Oak Hall faces Rockville Military Academy in a tense football game marked by heavy opposition and tactical tricks. Despite foul play and interference, Dave and his friends maintain discipline, execute a series of successful runs, and secure a celebrated triumph for their school.

A peril in the snow drift During a winter outing, student Tom Hally falls into a deep, covered snow pit and begins to smother. Dave organizes a human chain, lowers himself into the hole at great personal risk, and pulls the exhausted boy out to safety.

The midnight abduction Merwell and Jasniff hire a disreputable driver and a corrupt doctor to drug and kidnap Dave in an automobile. They plan to frame him for a factory burglary, but Dave feigns unconsciousness, assesses his surroundings, and manages a daring escape from an old stone building.

Exposing the conspirators Following a triumphant hockey game, Dave locates the disgraced Doctor Montgomery, who reveals the details of the plot against him. Dave and his chums go to confront Merwell and Jasniff, but the culprits flee town to escape justice.

The People

• Dave Porter: The brave, honorable protagonist of Oak Hall who consistently stands up to bullies and unfair play. He seeks to maintain his school's honor and protect his friends, successfully overcoming stranded islands, snow rescues, and a dangerous kidnapping scheme.
• Nick Jasniff: A bitter former Oak Hall student turned Rockville cadet who harbors deep resentment against Dave. Driven by spite and revenge, he orchestrates malicious traps and eventually a plot to frame Dave for a crime before fleeing when discovered.
• Link Merwell: Jasniff’s primary accomplice and fellow former student whose hatred for Dave leads him into criminal behavior. He desires to humiliate Dave and make him pay for past grievances, but his nervous cowardice shows when his schemes collapse.
• Nat Poole: A purse-proud, arrogant Oak Hall student who continually tries to assert dominance over his peers through money and influence. He allies with troublemakers and uses petty tactics on the sports field, only to be repeatedly humbled by his own lack of stamina and skill.
• Job Haskers: The harsh, unpopular second assistant teacher at Oak Hall whose strictness makes him the primary target of student pranks. He seeks rigid discipline but frequently finds himself embarrassed by the boys' clever tricks.
• Doctor Hooker Montgomery: A fallen, dissipated physician who acts as a weak tool in Jasniff and Merwell’s kidnapping plot. Intimidated by the potential legal consequences, he ultimately turns on his co-conspirators and confesses the plot to Dave.

In Its Own Voice

Before Dave could answer, Nat Poole strode forward with a sickly smile on his face.

Dave faces down a group of reckless rivals who nearly ran his party off the road in a speeding automobile.

"I will think it over, and perhaps I'll send a letter to the master of Rockville," returned Doctor Clay, seriously.

The headmaster of Oak Hall considers how to handle former troublemakers who have transferred to a rival academy.

When Dave regained his senses he found himself in the tonneau of a big automobile that was speeding swiftly over a dark country road.

Dave awakens after being drugged and abducted by his enemies in the dead of night.

What It's Really About

At its core, the novel examines the conflict between honorable character and toxic rivalry within adolescent institutions. It contrasts Dave Porter’s ideal of "manly, brave" sportsmanship with the destructive spite of Jasniff, Merwell, and Nat Poole, whose inability to accept defeat drives them from schoolyard malice into criminal dishonesty. The story argues that true leadership relies on loyalty, self-control, and moral courage rather than wealth or intimidation. Beneath the energetic series of pranks and athletic contests lies a clear moral framework about accountability, demonstrating how petty grudges, if unchecked by discipline and integrity, inevitably lead to self-destruction and social exile.

Why Read It Today

Dave Porter and His Rivals offers a nostalgic window into early twentieth-century American juvenile fiction, capturing the enthusiasm, values, and vernacular of the era. Modern readers who enjoy historical school stories will appreciate its swift narrative pace, vintage slang, and detailed depictions of period athletics, from early gridiron football plays to frozen-pond hockey matches.

The prose reflects its 1911 publication date, featuring melodramatic villainy, formal dialogue, and formulaic plot beats characteristic of Stratemeyer's syndicate productions. Characters often speak in theatrical tropes, and the plot relies heavily on dramatic coincidences and stark moral contrasts between good and bad boys. However, the novel's genuine warmth, clean spirit of camaraderie, and high-stakes adventure carry a straightforward charm. It stands as an authentic artifact of early American young adult literature, best suited for readers seeking light, historical entertainment or an insightful look at the origins of modern series fiction.