two men, about to journey through a forest, agreed to stand by each other in any dangers that might befall. they had not gone far before a savage bear rushed out from a thicket and stood in their path.

one of the travellers, a light, nimble fellow, climbed up into a tree.

the other fell flat on his face and held his breath.

the bear came up and smelled at him, and, taking him for dead, went off again into the wood. the man in the tree then came down, and, rejoining his companion, asked him, with a mischievous smile, what was the wonderful secret that the bear had whispered into his ear,

"why," replied the other sulkily, "he told me to take care for the future and not to put any confidence in such cowardly rascals as you are!"