# XVI: The Night Hunt explained — The Dain Curse

> Chapter companion for The Dain Curse by Dashiell Hammett.

## What happens

The narrator returns to Poston and Quesada, meeting reporters and the district attorney Vernon. He delivers Fitzstephan's story, leading to a search of Harvey Whidden's cabin where evidence is planted. Mrs. Cotton provides an alibi for Whidden, implicating her husband Dick Cotton in the crimes. The chapter ends with a tense confrontation and a search for Cotton and Whidden.

## Themes in this chapter

### Crime and Detection

The search for evidence, the planting of clues, and the investigation into the Collinsons' murder and kidnapping drive the chapter.

### Deception and Illusion

Mrs. Cotton's alibi for Whidden and the framing of Whidden by Cotton illustrate themes of deception and false appearances.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Returns to Quesada, delivers Fitzstephan's story, participates in the search of Whidden's cabin.

### Jack Santos

San Francisco reporter who greets the narrator and comments on the rivalry between Vernon, Feeney, and Cotton.

### Madison Andrews

Mentioned as being advised to get ransom money ready, but he won't.

### Owen Fitzstephan

His story is relayed to Vernon and Feeney; he is expected to arrive in the morning.

### Dick Cotton

Marshal who leads the search of Whidden's cabin, finds evidence, and later pursues Whidden.

### Harvey Whidden

Owner of the cabin where evidence is planted; confronts the search party and flees.

## Key lines

> I caught the 5:25 train south. It put me in Poston, a dusty town twice Quesada’s size, at 7:30; and a rattle-trap stage, in which I was the only passenger, got me to my destination half an hour later.

The narrator took a train to Poston, then a stagecoach to Quesada, arriving around 8 PM.

_Sets the scene for the narrator's return to Quesada._

> It’s been turned into a contest between Vernon, Feeney, and Cotton to see which can get his name and picture printed most.

Santos criticizes the local officials for prioritizing media attention over actual detective work.

_Highlights the theme of media sensationalism and rivalry._

> Don’t believe him, Mr. Vernon. Don’t believe a word he tells you. Harve didn’t have anything to do with those Collinsons, with neither one of them. Don’t let Dick tell you he did. He didn’t.

Mrs. Cotton pleads with Vernon not to trust her husband's accusations against Whidden.

_Reveals the personal conflict and potential framing._

> Rolly pulled it out from between bed-slats and mattress. It was a small flat bundle wrapped in a white linen towel.

Rolly discovers a hidden bundle of feminine items in Whidden's bed.

_Key evidence found during the search, implicating Whidden._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dain_curse_se/chapters/xvi-the-night-hunt
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dain_curse_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_dain_curse_se/chapters