He was taking a stroll one day, and lost in meditation, so the story runs, rather incautiously started to cross a meadow where a ferocious bull was pastured.
The gentleman did not see the bull until he charged, and then like a true soldier of fortune he dropped his dignity and made headlong for the nearest fence.
This he reached in good time, but the bull had the satisfaction of assisting him over.
Though no great damage was done, Mr. Davis' feelings were deeply injured.
Just then, as luck would have it, the owner of the bellowing bovine came running up.
He was angry because Mr. Davis had been trespassing on his property, and Mr. Davis was mad clean through because he was not in the habit of being assisted over fences in that style.
"I'll have you arrested for trespass, sir," exclaimed the farmer, in a rage.
"And I'll have you summoned for keeping dangerous animals at large," cried Mr. Davis.
"You had no business on my land, sir."