was successfully accomplished, in the teeth, too, of the most untoward and apparently hopeless impediments; 也可以说，就在最不顺手，仿佛是最无希望的百般困难中，顺利地完成了对塔斯蒂哥的接生工作，

which is a lesson by no means to be forgotten. 这是一个决不能忘记的教训。

Midwifery should be taught in the same course with fencing and boxing, riding and rowing. 因此，教授助产学，同时还得教授击剑，拳击，骑术和划船这些课程才是。

I know that this queer adventure of the Gay-Header's will be sure to seem incredible to some landsmen, 我知道，这个该黑特佬这番奇遇，在某些陆地人看来，一定会被认为不足信的，

though they themselves may have either seen or heard of some one's falling into a cistern ashore; an accident which not seldom happens, 虽然他们自己也许曾经耳闻目睹到有人掉进了岸上的水槽的事故；这倒并不是难得碰到的意外事件，

and with much less reason too than the Indian's, considering the exceeding slipperiness of the curb of the Sperm Whale's well. 可是，鉴于抹香鲸那只大井口非常之滑，况且过去所发生的也远不及这个印第安人这番遭遇更来得有根有据。

But, peradventure, it may be sagaciously urged, how is this? 但是，万一也许有人聪明地诘问，这是怎么一回事？

We thought the tissued, infiltrated head of the Sperm Whale, was the lightest and most corky part about him; 我们认为，抹香鲸那只薄绢似的。互为渗透的头颅，就是它身上最轻和最象软木体的部分；

and yet thou makest it sink in an element of a far greater specific gravity than itself. 你却说它会沉在一种比它本身比重更大的元素里。

We have thee there. 这你就输了。

Not at all, but I have ye;  且慢，完全不是这么回事，我还要告诉你；

for at the time poor Tash fell in, the case had been nearly emptied of its lighter contents, 因为可怜的塔斯蒂哥跌进去的时候，那只脑窝里的最轻的东西已经差不多被掏空了，

leaving little but the dense tendinous wall of the well—a double welded, hammered substance, as I have before said, 只留下一层厚密的腱质体井壁——一种连接在一起的双层体，我在前文已经提到，

much heavier than the sea water, and a lump of which sinks in it like lead almost. 这是比海水重的东西，把那东西放上一块在水里，它简直会象铅一般沉下去。