Two men were traveling together, when a bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree, and concealed¹ himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt² him all over, he held his breath, and feigned³ the appearance of death as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other traveler descended⁴ from the tree, and, accosting⁵ his friend, jocularly inquired "what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear?" His friend replied: "He gave me this advice: Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger."

Misfortune tests the sincerity⁶ of friends.