"Never fear," said the larger one, "I can protect myself and you too, so there will be no danger. There is nothing in the forest for any man to fear, except a hungry bear, and I'd like to meet the bear that could be a match for me."

Two men were going along a lonely road and talking of what they would do if a bear or wolves attack them.

The two men ran for a tree. The one who had spoken so bravely reached it first and climbed to safety. The smaller man, being left to face the bear alone, threw himself on the ground and lay as if dead. When the bear came up, he smelt the man on the ground and went away. Then the larger man came down from the tree and said, "What did the bear say in your ear? You seemed like old friends."

"Oh," the other answered, "he told me never to trust a boaster"

Just at that time, a huge bear appeared in the road and moved towards the two men.