He knew his mother was counting on him to bring home enough sandals for the fire. 他知道母亲指望他带回足够多的草鞋来生火。

If he did not bring them, there would be no hot supper for Father when he came home from work. 如果没有完成，父亲下班回家就没有热乎乎的晚饭吃了。

Rolling up his trousers above his knees so that they would not be spattered with mud, 方廷把裤子卷到膝盖以上，以免溅上污泥，

Ting Fang tied his long coat around his waist. 把长外套系在腰间，

Then, with the long rope in his hand, he started out. 手里拿着长绳出发了。

Most of the rickshas travel on the Big Horse Road; 大马道满是来来往往的黄包车;

so Ting Fang went to that road first. There were many other children there, already sandal-hunting, 方廷先去了那条路，许多其他孩子也在那儿，他们已经开始寻找草鞋，

and they called, "Hey, Ting Fang of Ricksha Man Alley! Come and race with us. 他们叫道：“嘿，黄包车巷的方廷！来和我们比赛吧。

We are just starting. Have you a long rope?" 我们才刚刚开始，你有长绳吗?”

"I certainly have," answered Ting Fang. "Are you going to get home by twelve o'clock? 方廷回答说：“当然了。”“你们准备十二点之前到家吗?

I have to be home then so that I can have some sandals, dried by supper-time." 我必须回去，这样晚饭的时候草鞋就可以晒干了。”

"Yes," said the leader of the race, "we will be home by twelve." “是的，”领头的说道，“我们将在十二点前到家。”

And off the children started, excited and happy. 孩子们出发比赛了，脸上洋溢着兴奋和快乐。