The spear missed Vrenna by only a hand-span.
( ( The spear ) ( ( ( missed Vrenna ) ( by ( only ( a hand-span ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN spear)) (VP (VBD missed) (NP (NNP Vrenna)) (PP (IN by) (NP (RB only) (DT a) (NN hand-span)))) (. .)))
It was a short distance from the person to the weapon.
( It ( ( was ( ( a ( short distance ) ) ( from ( ( the person ) ( to ( the weapon ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBD was) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ short) (NN distance)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN person)) (PP (TO to) (NP (DT the) (NN weapon))))))) (. .)))