Later that day, before mustering for a war council, a member climbed the ladder to the clubhouse to ensure the ritual items were in place. Out of earshot and hidden behind a tree, Molly watched. The warrior who inspected the clubhouse scampered quickly down the ladder and told his brothers that a huge wasp nest was hanging from the ceiling. With a malicious look on his face, the chief chuckled and said, “Ah-ha, fetch that sweet, innocent little girl Molly. The wasps will rid us of her, once ad for all.”
When Molly was brought before him, the chief said, “Girl, if you can climb blindfolded up to the tree house and bring me the sacred Bowie knife hanging from the ceiling, you will qualify for Mohican membership. But you’ll get no second chance — fail, and you’ll be banned forever from this manly cult.” Squaring her shoulders, Molly announced that the challenge was fair enough and asked to be blindfolded.
Slowly, Molly felt her way up the ladder and into the clubhouse. While groping for the Bowie knife, her hand poked directly into the nest. Out, she flew, slapping, screaming, and crashing to the ground. Barely able to conceal his glee, Chief Deadly Dagger asked her what happened.
Gasping for breath, she replied, “A wasp nest is hanging from the ceiling, and I put my hand into it, but that will not stop me from getting that knife. Tie some rags to a stick, set them on fire, and let one of your warriors volunteer to shove it near the nest. When the smoke makes the wasps leave, I will climb blindfolded into the house and get the knife.”
