The Bear and the Travelers

Two travelers were making their way through the countryside, when a bear suddenly appeared on the scene. Before the bear noticed them, one rushed to an oak tree alongside the road and climbed into the branches to conceal himself.

The other was not as nimble as his companion and saw it would be impossible to escape. Fearing he would be attacked, he threw himself flat on the ground with his face in the dust and feigned the appearance of death.

The bear came up and sniffed all around him with his muzzle close to the man’s ear, but the man kept perfectly still and held his breath. He had heard that a bear will not touch a dead body, and indeed, the bear took him for a corpse and went away.

When the coast was clear, the traveler in the tree descended and inquired of his comrade what the bear had whispered to him when he put his mouth to his ear. “He gave me worthwhile advice,” the other said. “Never travel again with someone who deserts you at the first sign of danger.”