Two friends were walking in the forest. One is tall, and the other is short. The tall man said to the other, "We are good friends. If any beast comes, I'll help you." The short man answered,"Of course, we are good friends."

At this time a bear came to them. The tall man quickly climbed up a tree, but the short one couldn't. He said,"Help me, I can't climb up." But the tall man said, "No, the tree is not strong."

The short man had to throw himself to the ground and held his breath. The bear smelt him and went away. The tall man came down and asked,"What did the bear say to you?"

"He runs awayfrom you when you are in great need. He is not your friend," he answered.

Remember: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

【參考譯文】

兩個朋友正在森林中行走。兩人一個是高個子，一個是矮個子。高個子對矮個子說：“我們是朋友。如果來了野獸，我會幫你的。”矮個子說，“當然了，我們是朋友嘛!”

正在這時，一只熊朝他們走來。高個子一下子跳上了樹，而矮個子上不去。他說：“幫幫我，我爬不上去。”可是高個子卻說，“不行，這棵樹不太結實。”

矮個子只能撲到地上，屏住呼吸。熊聞了聞，走開了。高個子下來問，“熊對你說什么啦?”

“在你最需要幫助時他離開了你，他不是你的朋友，”矮個子說。

記?。夯茧y的朋友才是真正的