Having escaped immediate danger, the hunter's instinct awoke within him, and he longed to get that bear.
If he only had his gun, he would soon settle him, but the bear, unfortunately, had possession of that.

He began hurriedly to cut off as stout a branch as he could to make himself a club.

He was not a moment too soon, for the bear, realizing that he could neither tear up the tree by the roots nor shake his enemy out of it, decided, apparently, to go up for him.
He first set himself to get rid of Fido, which he partially succeeded in doing by chasing him a long distance off.

Then, with a great rush, he flew at the tree, and with amazing rapidity began to climb.
Hughie, surprised by this swift attack, hastened to climb to the higher branches, but in a moment he saw that this would be fatal.

Remembering that the bear is like the dog in his sensitive parts, he descended to meet his advancing foe, and reaching down, hit him a sharp blow on the snout.