(单词翻译:单击)
After I’d run a few feet I stopped, sensing something.
跑了几英尺后，我停下来，感觉到了什么。
I turned and looked back at my new mother, who was sitting just inside the open gate, watching me.
我转过身，回头看了看我的第二任妈妈，她正坐在敞开的大门里，看着我。
I remembered Mother back in the Yard, glancing once at me before heading back out into the world.
我想起了院子里的第一任母亲，她在回到外面的世界之前，也曾看了我一眼。
My new mother wouldn’t be joining me, I realized.
这时候，我意识到，我的第二任妈妈不会跟我一起走。
She was staying with the family. I was on my own. Yet not for a moment did I hesitate.
她会和家人待在一起，而我今后只能靠自己。然而，我一刻也没有犹豫。
I knew from past experience that there were better yards than this, with loving people who would stroke my fur with their hands.
根据以往的经验，我知道还有比这更好的院子，那里会有爱我的人，他们会用手抚摸我。
And I knew that the time for suckling at my new mother’s teat was at an end.
我知道吮吸新妈妈奶水的日子已经结束了。
It was just how it was supposed to work—a dog eventually separated from his mother.
我知道我的离开意味着我会和妈妈永远分开。
But mostly I knew an opportunity was in front of me that was irresistible,
但我更清楚的是：机会就在眼前，难以抗拒，
a whole new world to be explored with long, if somewhat clumsy, legs.
这是一个全新的世界，要用长长的腿去探索，哪怕步履有些笨拙。
The dirt track eventually led to a road, which I decided to follow,
这条土路最终通向一条路，我决定沿着它走，
if for no other reason than the fact that it led straight into the wind, which was bringing me wonderful new scents.
做这个决定至少有一个原因是：这是一条有风的路，我可以闻到许多美妙的新气味。
Unlike the Yard, which had always been parched, I smelled damp, rotting leaves, and trees, and pools of water.
不像那个总是十分干燥的院子，我现在能闻到腐烂树叶的湿润气息、树木和水池的味道。
I skipped forward, the sun in my face, happy to be free, off on an adventure.
我蹦蹦跳跳地向前走着，阳光照在我脸上，我为自由而高兴，我能开启新冒险了。
I heard the truck coming long before I saw it but was so busy trying to catch an amazing winged bug I didn’t even look up until the door slammed.
我远远地听到卡车行驶过来的声音，但我忙着捉一只很吸引人的飞虫，所以直到车门砰的一声关上，我才抬起头来看到那辆车。
A man with wrinkled, tanned skin and muddy clothes knelt down, his hands out in front of him.
一个满脸皱纹、皮肤晒黑、衣服沾满泥巴的男人跪了下来，双手放在身前。
“Hey there, little fella!” he called. I regarded him uncertainly. “You lost, fella? You lost?” Wagging, I decided he must be okay.
“嘿，小家伙！”他这样喊我。我不确定地打量着他。“小家伙，你走丢了，对不对？”我摇了摇尾巴，我判断出这个人应该可以信任。
I trotted over to him and he picked me up, holding me high over his head, which I didn’t appreciate very much.
我跑到他身边，他抱起我，把我举过头顶，不过我不太喜欢这样。
