| Category: | Aesop's Fables |
|---|
Two men were traveling together, when a bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed 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 smelt him all over, he held his breath, and feigned the appearance of death as much as he could. The bear soon left him, for it is said bears will not touch a dead body.
When the bear was quite gone, the other Traveler descended from the tree, and jocularly inquired of his friend what it was the bear had whispered in his ear. "He gave me this advice," his companion replied. "Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger."
The moral of this fable is: Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends. (Don't be like Hank Hill's neighbor, Dale, on "King of the Hill," who runs off at the first sign of difficulty. When something goes wrong in our patrol or with our troop, or whatever group we're with, see what we can do to help. A Scout is Loyal.)