Foreword:
This fable represents desertion of friends and relatives at the time of misfortune, and numbered 65 in the Perry Index (as 65. The Travellers and the Bear). One of the most popular fables of Aesop, it was later expanded with a new meaning in Mediaeval Times - originating the proverb, "Catch the bear before you sell his skin".
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Two travellers were travelling together through a forest.
They struck upon great friendship on the way. During the course of their long journey together, they discussed details about their lives and families, their childhood and upbringing, their professions and ambitions, and their likes and dislikes.
And, they mutually promised to stand by each other in any danger, that they might encounter on their way.
Unknown to them, being completely engrossed in discussions with each other, they were crossing through a part of the forest, that was infested with bears.
Confident and assured of each other's companionship, they walked with little concern.
Suddenly, a huge bear jumped out from a thicket in front of them, and began to rush towards them.
Not knowing what to do, "Run", said one of them, "Run for your life!"
"We cannot outrun the bear", said the other, "We need to climb a tree!"
One friend, being a light nimble fellow, immediately got up the branches of a tree. On the other hand, the other friend tripped over some stones, sprained his ankle, and fell flat upon the ground.
"Help me!", shouted the fallen friend, to the other.
Concealed behind the branches, the nimble friend did nothing, but watch in silence.
"Quick! Help me!", shouted the fallen friend again, "I have sprained my ankle, and I need your help!"
"I am sorry, my friend!", uttered the other, "I cannot risk my life coming down from the tree, and the let the bear attack me."
Knowing that he was unable to fight the savage beast alone, the fallen friend remembered, he had heard that a bear does not touch a dead body or carcass.
Quickly, he threw himself on the ground, and holding his breath, lay flat and still to pretend dead.
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As the bear came near, and felt him with his snout, the fallen friend did not betray any signs of life, to feign the appearance of death as best as he could.
He continued to hold his breath, and lay motionless, as the bear sniffed all over his head and ears.
After the bear had sniffed and smelt him all over, and at last with a growl, the bear shook his head and slouched off.
Not discovering any marks of life, the bear walked away, again to the place of his retreat, without doing the least harm to the fallen friend, who continued to lay motionless.
After it was all over, and the bear was out of sight, the fallen friend sat up to tend his ankle.
The other friend, thankful that both of them had escaped unhurt from the ordeal presented, displayed concern for his co-traveller's sprained ankle. He said, "I shall tie a piece of cloth tightly around the ankle."
Observing his friend was not speaking to him, obviously angered for him not coming to his rescue, tried to strike a conversation to ease the atmosphere.
"Ha. Ha. Ha.", he laughed to say, "It looked as if the bear was whispering something into your ears. What did he say?"
"Oh. Yes. He did!", blurted back the fallen friend, "He told me to beware of selfish friends. He advised me to keep away from friends, who would run away at my time of need!"
Moral:
Misfortune is the test of true friendship.
Or,
Never trust a friend who leaves you when trouble approaches.
Summary:
Two friends were travelling through a forest, and since they only had each other to accompany, they promised each other to look out for the other. Soon, they were ambushed by a bear that was coming straight towards them. In a bid to save themselves, both of them began to run to nearby trees. One of them tripped and fell flat on the ground, while the other, instead of helping him, scurried to a nearby tree and climbed atop. Realizing it was too late, the traveller on the ground held his breath and lay still, as his friend sat quitely on the tree and watched. The bear smelled the traveller lying on the ground, and assuming he was dead, growled and slouched away shaking its head. As the bear left, and they were out of danger, the friend climbed down the tree to ask what the bear whispered in his ears. The other traveller replied, he had learnt this lesson from the bear to not trust a friend who leaves you in your time of need.
