The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-06-24
MACHINES and The MAN
by FRANK riLsoN.


tne nttle snelter WnlCn ne nau uut
with his sword, waiting for the com
mand to charge. On either side o.
him he could see his men lying down
also waiting. and adjusting tho mech
anism OF their rifles.
He was lying amid a pandemoni
UNI of noises. The heavy shells from
the guns roared over him necessarily
Mingled with these sounds came that
OF the smaller artillery. a defyins
screech that set his teeth on edge
And with these, but blending. as II
were. was the boot Of rifle bullets
now overhead. now low beside him,
occasionally varied with squirt OF
dust as a bullet struck the ground.
Rycroft, being an imaginative boy,
had anticipated the stunning horrors
OF battle. He knew that II would re-
quire all a mans resolution to face
them. still, he came OF a military
family. and he had believed that
when his time came, he would not be
proved wanting.
But this actual experience was more
terrifying than anything he had ever
conceived. As he lay there. helpless
conscious that men were looking to
him for leadership. he felt his blood
turning to water. He was shaking
he felt the sweat stream down his
face.
He had imagined a battle of men,
but this was battle OF machines
1t was machines that we're vomiting
out that hail OF bullets. that fury OF
shells Machines, which had caught
him In their Internal snare and we're
bent on his destruction. And the en-.
envy was not anywhere in sight.
Suddenly a shrill whistle blew. II
was the signal for the attack. Ry.
croft leaped to his feet, with the au.
tomatism born OF his camp training.
The men had sprung up on either side
OF him. The boot of the bullets was
terrible. II seemed a miracle that he
had escaped thus far.
He saw men begin to drop on either
side. The sergeant. next to him. flung
up his rife. spun round. and collapsed
upon his face. Stories began to recur
to the lieutenant's mind. He had heard
that men always spun round that
way when shot through the brain. He
saw the blood upon the sergeant's
head.
His knees would hardly bear him.
He heard his voice shouting COM
mands to his men. and did not recog.
nize II for his own. or know how IL
issued from his lips. He did not
know what he was saying. and list
ened for the words. Forward, boysi"
be was shouting.
He halted and crouched low. The
line had swept into an exposed angle
among the trees, and all the fire OF
The enemy was concentrated here. IL
was hard to 60 forward. was becom-
ng impossible. The men were lying
Town again. kneeling. firing. The fig-
ires Of the oficers and noneoms
we're seen. urging them to rise But
avery man who stood upon his feet
rithered under that Internal bullet |
stream. Rycroft saw the captain go
Town. The machines were winning
he victory.
And a sitting rage against this des.
.iny rose in his heart and choked his
.aroat. He sprang to his feet and
shook his fist In the direction OF the
cannon.
Forward. boys!" he screamed. this |
lime with intent and not automatical- |
y. He began to run forward. his
Inees quite steady now.
He heard the whole line rise TO its
eet and follow him. He realized that
lis anger had communicated itself to |
lis followers. The same spirit had !
'eiGed upon the entire company. and |
'pread from company to company. |
the regiment
As he ran he began to see the en- |
my for the first time. He saw long |
ines of figures leap from their |
renches to repel the attack. And he |
became aware. too. that the shells |
lad ceased. The lines were too close
ogether. and the hostile gunners
,ould fire no longer for fear OF hurt |
ng their own men.
II was bullet against bayonet now. !
{ was bayonet against bayonet. The
attackers were upon the trenches OF |
he enemy. The machines had ceased |
o act II was the men behind the |
now, and these were pow
'rless.
Suddenly Rycroft realized that He |
Jaw that the same moral force and
sill-power were there. as on the foot
,all field, as at Crecy and Waterloo.
rhe machine was, by itself. an i'm
'otent. dead thing. II was only the
nan that counted.
He was mixed with the melee. He |
vas In the heart Of the stabbing as
ault. Bayonet crossed bayonet. He
Jaw everything as In a dream. He
vas conscious OF an inner personality, I
'erene and quiet. IN the heart OF the
torn He saw himself cut down a
nan at a machine gun. who was aim
ng a rife at him. He saw the en-
'my's lines break. surge backward:
10 saw the defenders In wild retreat.
pursued by his own men.
And he was standing alone. I'M
In the center OF a painting,
heering throng. They were cheering
lin. His sword was broken. and he
lid not know how he had broken II.
5ut he knew that he had found him
elf. the human personality, without
which tne machines were 80 many
mpotent masses OF worthless steel