Two men were strolling down a forest path when they came across a bear. One man scampered up a tree and escaped the bear's claws. The other man knew there was nothing he could do, so he dropped to the ground and played dead.

     The bear went up to the man and sniffed about his ears. He pawed at him a few times. Thinking the man was dead, the bear walked away.

     After the bear left, his friend came down from the tree.
     "What did the bear say to you, friend, when he whispered in your ear?" asked his friend.

     "Oh," answered his friend, "He just told me that I should consider about traveling with friends who run out on their friends in times of trouble."