Question

Why does the author write “struck off” instead of “walked off”?

because “struck off” implies that he struck someone
because “struck off” implies that he did it quickly and forcefully
because “struck off” implies that he did it slowly and forcefully
because “struck off” implies that he did it cautiously

Answer 1

Well if you read the part right after struck off "from the RUDE path". I would suggest your answer having synonyms to the word rude. Then trackless wilderness. Would you enter a trackless wilderness slow or fast?
so I personally suggest slowly and forcefully.
But I could be wrong