Live Safely Under the Ice 
But the muskrat wisely 
left the trap and went to 
a spot where he dug some 
mussel shells from the 
bottom and opened them 
with his long upper teeth. 
In the winter, when the 
pond was frozen over, 
they were fairly safe, and 
without fear could make 
trips out under the ice to 
get their food. 
Sometimes they would let 
out their breath in a great 
bubble against the ice, 
where it was freshened. 
Then they could breathe 
it in again. 
