Two men were going through a forest. 从前有两个人要穿过一座森林。

　　"I am afraid," said one, "that we may meet with wild beasts; I see the tracks of their paws on the ground." 一个说：“我好怕啊，我们可能会碰见很多的野兽，因为我看到它们的脚印了。”

　　"Fear nothing, friend Quickwit," cried the other, whose name was Braggart. 另一个叫巴戈特的人喊着：”不用担心，奎克维特，

　　"In case of an attack we shall stand by one another like men. I have a strong arm, a stout heart, and—" 不管我们遇见什么野兽我们都要像男人一样勇敢。我的手臂将健有力，我的身体强壮结实，我的······“

　　"Hark!" cried the first in alarm, as a low growl was heard from a thicket near. “听！”从一点钟方向的灌木丛中传来一声咆哮。

　　In an instant Braggart, who was light and nimble, climbed up a tree like a squirrel, leaving his friend, who was not so active, to face the danger alone! 巴戈特突然消失了，身手敏捷的像松鼠一样爬上树，留下傻傻的朋友独自面临危机。

　　But Quickwit's presence of mind did not fail him. 但是奎克维特并不笨。

　　He could not fight, he could not fly; but he laid himself flat on the ground, and held his breath, so as to appear quite dead. 虽然他不能打、不会飞，但是他平躺在地上，摒住呼吸，像死人一样。

　　Out of the thicket rushed a huge bear, and at once made up to poor Quickwit; while Braggart looked down, trembling, from his perch in the tree. 灌木丛跑来了一只大灰熊，一眼就看到了奎克维特，但是巴戈特就愣愣的呆在树上看着。

　　One may guess what were the feelings of Quickwit when the bear snuffed all round him, 难以想像的是，当大灰熊在奎克维特身边到处闻，

　　coming so near that he could feel its warm breath, when its muzzle was close to his ear! 用鼻子闻他耳朵的时候他几乎能感觉到熊的呼吸，他的心情是多么复杂啊！

　　But Quickwit did not wince or move; and the bear, thinking him dead, plunged again into the thicket, leaving him quite unharmed! 但是奎克维特始终一动不动，灰熊以为他死了，没有咬他，又跑回了灌木丛。

　　When Braggart saw that the danger was over, he came down from the tree. 巴戈特看到灰熊离开了，就从树上爬下来了。

　　Somewhat ashamed of his cowardly conduct, he tried to pass off the matter with a joke. 不管自己的胆小有多丢人，他只想开一个玩笑。

　　"Well, my friend Quickwit," he said, "what did the bear say to you when he whispered into your ear?" 他说：“奎克维特，我的朋友！灰熊在你耳边说了什么啊？”

　　"He told me," replied Quickwit, "never again to trust a boaster like you!" 奎克维特回答道：“灰熊告诉我，再也不要相信像你这样吹牛皮的人！”

　　The hour of danger often shows that the greatest boasters are the greatest cowards. 这个故事告诉我们牛皮大王往往是胆小鬼，

　　Let courage be proved by deeds, not by words. 勇敢是要行动证明的，而不是说说而已。