Final answer:
Twain finally stands up to Brown when he realizes he was being tricked. The tension in the anecdote is built through vivid details and hyperbole, and dialogue helps define the conflict. The primary topic is the conflict between Twain and Brown.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Mark Twain's memoir, he finally stands up to Brown because he realizes that Brown and the rest of the group were tricking him. Twain feels embarrassed and foolish for falling for the trick, and this motivates him to defend himself and assert his independence.
Twain builds tension in the anecdote through vivid details and hyperbole. The description of the dangers multiplying and the panic Twain feels adds to the conflict. Additionally, the use of dialogue helps advance the plot and increase tension, further defining the conflict.
The primary topic of this question is the conflict between Twain and Brown in the anecdote from Twain's memoir.