【英】《伊索寓言》第22集：The Bear and the Travelers

One day, two men walked together through the woods. One of the men was young and strong and the other was older and walked with a bit of a limp, but they considered themselves friends and often traveled together.

As they followed the forest trail, they came suddenly into a clearing where they startled a huge bear. The bear raised up on his back feet and roared. The two men turned and ran back down the trail.

The younger man quickly reached a tree and began to climb. The older man reached the tree after him, but knew he could not climb the branches without help. His friend had disappeared into the leaves far above.

The older man heard the bear roaring and crashing behind him. He threw himself on the ground in the brush and leaves.

The bear burst from the brush and roamed around the tree. He sniffed the ground. He sniffed the still body of the older man, even putting his nose right into the man’s ear for a sniff. Since the older man didn’t move, the bear soon lost interest and wandered back into the woods.

After waiting for a time to be sure they were safe, the younger man finally scrambled down the tree as the older man stood up. The young man gave his friend a playful nudge and said, “So tell me, what did Mr. Bear say to you?”

His friend frowned and said, “He told me to beware of friends who cannot be counted upon in an emergency.”