The Travellers and the Bear

Two friends were walking along the same road. A bear suddenly appeared before them. One quickly climbed a tree and stayed there hidden; the other, about to be caught, let himself fall to the ground and played dead. The bear brought its muzzle near him and sniffed him all over; but the man held his breath; for they say the bear does not touch a corpse. When the bear had gone off, the man who was in the tree came down and asked the other what the bear had said in his ear. "Not to travel in future with friends who slip away in danger," replied the other.