Rawhide - "Incident of the Silent Web" (1960)

A man and his daughter (Reba Waters) are traveling west to a ranch he has purchased. Her dog runs off and is found by the men of the cattle drive. The girl runs off at night to find the dog, and looks back to see her father murdered by his partner who wants to steal the ranch. From the shock she is made mute. An escaped convict finds her father, changes clothes with him and assumes his identity, which she sees, but she can say nothing about it without her voice. He captures her and brings her into the trail drive camp, posing as her father.

Paul Brinegar is the cantankerous cook, Wishbone. James Murdoch is Mushy, his assistant. It is comical and touching to see Wishbone being fatherly to the girl.


Reba Waters


Paul Brinegar


James Murdoch