He had been separated from the rest of his group for hours. He had gone out ahead of them so he could stop and fix his pack. One by one he watched them pass. For hours he thought if he kept pressing on, he could overtake them again. For hours there had only been two choices: go back or press on through the canyon.
Now there was a break in the smooth canyon walls. Another river had carved its way from the east through the sandstone. He was no longer sure he could find his companions again.
He was sure that unless he found them, he would not make the rendezvous. If they were still in the canyon, they wouldn't make it either. Chances were they hadn't stopped for him or sent someone back to look for him.
They had left him. For all they knew, they left him for dead.
