Horsehead Crossing
Horsehead Crossing supposedly got its name from the legend that a band of Comanche warriors lost many horses to the poisonous Pecos brine. Their skulls littered the river banks.
After 3 days without water for horses, cattle and men, fearing the cattle would stampede to the river and drown, Charles ordered his men to hold up the cattle in a canyon 12 miles away
Early in the morning, he took all the available canteens to the Horsehead Crossing. He wanted the cowboys and horses to be hydrated before the formidable task of controlling the thirsty cattle rushing to the water.
Preliminary working sketch.
Decided to move Charles and his horse closer to the foreground to have more impact. Moved the distant river bank farther back to become a lesser element. Added another skull for interest and to suggest that a number of skulls were there.