Marie’s knowledge of this network — of its rhythms, its relationships, its geography — was detailed and practical.

She had traveled through it for three years.

She knew which river carried traffic in which direction.

She knew which nations occupied which territories and what their relationships with the trade were like.

She knew when the canoes would come.

This knowledge is what she used when she positioned herself and her sons near the Columbia River in the spring of 1814.

She was not guessing.