by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Neville Brand makes another Bonanza appearance in the December 5, 1971 episode "The Rattlesnake Brigade." This time, Brand is cast as the vicious head of the Doyle Gang, who hold Jamie and three other teenagers hostage while making their escape. Jamie's adoptive father Ben Cartwright agonizes along with parents of the other hostages as the wagon bearing the Doyles and their youthful prisoners gets farther and farther away. The topnotch supporting cast includes such familiar character actors as David Sheiner, Severn Darden, Don Keefer, and Richard Yniquez. The 400th episode of Bonanza, "The Rattlesnake Brigade" was written by Gordon T. Dawson.
