Ep 13. Incident of the Dog Days

Incident of the Dog Days is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the western television series, Rawhide. The show follows the adventures of a group of cattle drivers who are tasked with herding a cattle herd from San Antonio, Texas to Sedalia, Missouri, which is a distance of more than 1,500 miles. The show is set in the late 1860s, during the height of the American west expansion, and it explores themes such as loyalty, bravery, and the challenges of survival in an unforgiving frontier.

In this episode, the Rawhide crew is facing some major challenges that are threatening to break their spirit. The crew is faced with the task of herding a large cattle herd through a scorching desert, with little or no water. The weather is inordinately hot, and the men are beginning to feel the effects of the heat. They come across a small oasis, and they find some shady trees and a tempting pool of water. The crew is so tired and thirsty that they take off their clothes and jump into the pool, completely forgetting their responsibilities.

Meanwhile, a band of outlaws is closing in on the herd. The outlaws have been raiding cattle herds in the area, and they are notorious for their brutality. The leader of the gang, a ruthless man named Lobo, has his sights set on the Rawhide cattle, and he has no intention of letting the cowboys get away with his spoils. Lobo sends his men to attack the Rawhide herd, and the cowboys are caught completely off guard. They scramble to their feet and grab their weapons, but they are no match for the outlaws.

The battle that ensues is brutal and bloody. The cowboys are outnumbered, outgunned, and outmatched, and they are forced to retreat. The outlaws take several head of cattle, and the Rawhide crew is left to count their losses and contemplate their next move. The cowboys are reeling from the shock of the attack, and they are starting to doubt their own ability to complete the mission.

Into this tense situation comes a stray dog. The dog is mangy, dirty, and clearly suffering from the heat. However, the dog manages to ingratiate itself with the cowboys, who quickly take a liking to him. The dog seems to sense that the cowboys need something to rally around, and he begins to act as a sort of mascot for the Rawhide crew.

The cowboys are inspired by the dog's tenacity and loyalty. They begin to take heart and regain their focus, and they start to plan how they will outwit the outlaws. They come up with several ingenious ideas, including using decoy cattle to lure the bad guys into a trap, and setting up a false camp to throw the outlaws off their scent. However, each of these plans comes with its own set of risks and pitfalls, and the cowboys must be careful not to make a mistake that could cost them the entire herd.

Ultimately, the cowboys are able to outsmart the outlaws and save the cattle herd. They use the decoy cattle to lead Lobo and his men into a trap, and they are able to recover the stolen cattle and return them to the herd. The cowboys are elated, and they hold a celebratory party in honor of the stray dog who helped them through their darkest moments.

In Conclusion, Rawhide season 1 episode 13 is a thrilling western adventure that explores the themes of loyalty, bravery, and the power of a common goal to rally people together. The cowboys are faced with impossible odds, but they are able to overcome them through the help of a stray dog and their own ingenuity and resourcefulness. The episode is a testament to the resilience of human spirit in the face of great adversity, and it will leave viewers feeling uplifted and inspired.