The Blue Fire refers to St. Elmo's fire which is a strange weather phenomenon when there is a blue light around objects. The ending scene features Lucky chasing the stampeding herd during a lightning storm. He is hit by lightning but even after being struck by lightning he still stays on his horse rounding up the cattle until they quiet down. He was rounding up the cattle even after he had died. It is a truly memorable scene and to me, it is reminiscent of the scene in the movie El Cid in which El Cid is tied to his horse after his death and rides out to fight the Moors.
I love Rawhide because it is about the mystery of the elements and man and animals struggling to survive. It is mystical for that reason. One of my favorite movies is “Moby Dick”, the 1956 version with Gregory Peck. It has the same theme of the mystery of nature, life and death.
Do you recall the Mary Robbin’s song “The Master’s Call”, it has special meaning for me, but it also fits your Rawhide episode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e22cEMXganQ