The Travellers and the Bear

Two men travelling through a forest together promised to help each other whatever danger threated them. They had not gone far when a bear rushed at them from some bushes. One man was a good climber, and quickly climbed a nearby tree, but the other, seeing that he had no chance alone against the bear, fell flat on his back, and pretended to be dead. The Bear came up to him, sniffed¹ at him, and thicking him dead went off into the wood again without hurting him. 

 

When he had gone, the other traveller came down from his tree, and smilingly asked his companion what the Bear had said to him. "For I could see," he said, " that he put his mouth close to your ear." 

 

"He told me to tell you," replied the other,"that you were a great coward², and that in future I should not trust those who make fine promises, but will no stand by their friends in danger." 

 

Don't trust fine promises unless you are sure of the person who makes them.

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