Being on the coast again seemed to bring him inside his enemies' territory, and had not Dobson specifically forbidden the shore?
It was here that they might be looking for him.

He felt himself out of condition, very wet and very warm, but he attained a creditable pace, for he struck a road which had been used by manure-carts collecting seaweed.

There were faint marks on it, which he took to be the wheels of Dougal's "machine" carrying the provision-box.

Yes.

On a patch of gravel there was a double set of tracks, which showed how it had returned to Mrs.Sempill.