As two friends were traveling through a wood , a bear rushed out Upon them , one of the men , without to his companion .Climbed up into a tree and hid among the branches the other knowing that alone he had no chance threw himself on the ground And pretended to be dead , for he had heard that bears will not touch A dead body. The creature came and sniffed him from head to foot , but thinking Him to be lifeless , went away without harming him , then the man in The tree got down and hoping to pass his cowardice off with a joke.Said " I noticed that the bear had his mouth very close to your ear ,What did he whisper to you ? ".Answered the other , " He only told me never to keep company with Those who in time of danger leave their friends in the lurch " .