Indeed he was. And he would have found her had the dog not interrupted.

Seriously though Olivant, Richard was on the verge of killing himself. Either it was a happy accident that the dog stole his mask or the other people in the woods ordered the dog to fetch it.

I think it was subtly understood that everyone knew they had just interrupted a suicide attempt, which is why they told Richard , "These woods are for living".

And later on Richard asked Jimmy "Would you fight for me?". The character is desperately lonely and depressed.