Two Fellows were travelling together through a wood,
when a Bear rushed out upon them. One of the travellers
happened to be in front, and he seized hold of the branch
of a tree, and hid himself among the leaves. The other,
seeing no help for it, threw himself flat down upon the
ground, with his face in the dust. The Bear, coming up to
him, put his muzzle close to his ear, and sniffed and
sniffed. But at last with a growl he shook his head and
slouched off, for bears will not touch dead meat. Then the
fellow in the tree came down to his comrade, and,
laughing, said ‘What was it that Master Bruin whispered to
you?’
‘He told me,’ said the other,
‘Never trust a friend who deserts you at a pinch.’
Moral Lesson: Never trust a friend who deserts you at a pinch.
―
Aesop
