Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

Once, there were two friends. They lived in a certain village. They were very intimate with each other. They promised that they would help each other in time of danger. One day, they were passing through a forest. Suddenly, they saw a bear coming towards them. Both of them got afraid. One of them knew how to climb up a tree. He climbed up a nearby tree without thinking about his friend. The other did not know how to climb up a tree. But he knew that a bear does not touch a dead body. So, he lay flat on the ground like a dead person and stopped breathing. The bear came near him, smelt him all over the body and thought him to be dead. So, without touching him, it went away slowly and gently. The friend who was on the tree saw everything. He got down from the tree, went to his friend and asked him eagerly, "Oh! Dear, what did the bear whisper to your ear?" In reply the friend said, "The bear advised me not to trust afriend who leaves his friend alone in time of danger."