In the first place, it was exceedingly dangerous to attempt to make his way up the canyon even by daylight, and the sun had already disappeared.

He was totally unfamiliar with the windings and would be in constant danger of drowning.

Moreover, he was liable, in the event of Fred being held a prisoner in the gorge, to place himself with him, or to defeat the negotiations for restoring him to liberty.
And yet, in the face of these and other obstacles, the youth decided to make the foolhardy attempt.
First of all he fastened his Winchester to his back, both he and his comrade having made provision for doing that before leaving Bowman's ranch.

Then he thrust his revolver more firmly into its resting-place.
This left his hands free, in case a sudden emergency should call for their use, and gave him an opportunity of saving the more important weapon.

Then, night being fully come, he stepped into the open space which marked the bank at the break of the canyon.