CHAPTER XVIII
It was a most exciting race, for they were pretty evenly matched in strength and speed, but one of them did win the race, and you will be very glad to know that it was the one on which Sweetclover was riding.
"Hurrah!" shouted the Villain, for he was better pleased that she had won than if he had won himself.
And they flew all day over Italy and, looking down, they saw people working in the fields and the vineyards, growing rice and grapes and all the fruits that come from Italy, and always they heard the people singing beautiful songs of gladness.
"I wonder what makes them so happy?" said the Villain.
"It's because it's such a beautiful country, I guess," said Sweetclover.
And they flew over the lakes which lie between Italy and Switzerland, and on all sides were mountains, the tops of which are always covered with snow.
Soon they came to Switzerland, which is away up in the mountains and very beautiful.
People travel from all parts of the world to climb these mountains and to see the wonderful scenery.