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Chapter 8 of the book "The Complete Guide to Building With Rocks & Stone: Stonework Projects and Techniques Explained Simply," by Brenda Flynn is presented. It highlights the 150-year-old stone bridge constructed at the Manassas Civil War Battlefield in Virginia which carried artillery cannons and soldiers across the river. It discusses the construction of the Ponte dei Quattro Capi bridge by the Romans in 62 BC with two semicircular arches that Romans are credited with inventing.

A chapter from the book "Outdoor Adventure! Archery," is presented. It discusses how an archer prepares to shoot including the foot positions archers choose when preparing to shoot. It cites the basic foot positions which include the open, even and closed. It offers the basic steps for drawing and shooting an arrow where archers should keep a consistent form to make it easier for them to make small adjustments and improve their aim. It mentions trial and error as the simplest way to practice aiming where some archers use a bow sight to help with the aim.

“FOR WANT OF A NAIL …” “My good man, I am beside myself that if only I had had six cannons and enough ammunition to fire two thousand rounds, this town was ours,” wrote the duke of Guise to Gonnor, later Marshal Cossé, from Orléans on February 7, 1563. After pausing for rest and reorganization after the battle of Dreux, the royal army under his leadership had marched against Orléans and in a swift attack seized the faubourg of Le Portereau, and the Tournelles, the twin towers guarding the bridge which passed over the Loire to the heavily defended island of Les Mottes and thence into the city itself. But despite this initial success the attack was stillborn, for the army's heavy artillery train was missing, mired in a primitive road network made impassable by heavy winter rains. Guise's army would have to wait several weeks before receiving enough of the thirty-odd heavy guns and munitions it would eventually deploy in its preparations for a final assault on the city. But in the meantime the duke himself, mortally wounded by an assassin, would be removed from the scene, leaving the queen mother in a position to negotiate an end to the war and the peaceful surrender of Orléans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“BEING VICTORS THEIR DAMAGE IS GREATER” The day after the battle of Dreux, Admiral Coligny, leader of the Huguenot army, wrote a dispatch describing the battle and its outcome to Queen Elizabeth of England. In the dispatch, which was soon to be published widely abroad, Coligny listed a number of great Catholic noblemen whom he believed to have been killed or seriously wounded in the battle. In addition, some others, chevaliers of the order, along with several leaders, lieutenants and men-at-arms, prisoners, up to a hundred or more, who have not yet been identified; such that in truth, if they had suffered any higher losses, their army would have been entirely ruined. On our side, the capture of the Prince of Condé is a great misfortune…Besides that, we have lost some infantry captains and some gentlemen and soldiers, but in very small numbers. We thank God that our losses do not even compare to those suffered by our enemies. Not a single one of our principal leaders was wounded… They have but one sole point of advantage: because of the night and lack of horses, we left them four field pieces. But we consider that more than compensated for by the loss they sustained of so many great lords and captains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chapter XI of the book "Beltane the Smith," by Jeffery Farnol is presented. It focuses on how hangman Black Roger, bowman Giles and hairy man and serf Walkyn argued on who will accompany Beltane on his adventure but later expressed their combined allegiance with him. It highlights their meeting with friar Martin who digs a grave for a girl killed by Sir Pertolope's men and with a woman whose husband and other men from the village of Shallowford were imprisoned in the dungeon of Belsaye.

Chapter XL of the book "BELTANE THE SMITH," by Jeffery Farnol is presented. It focuses on the struggle of Beltane and his companions to save their lives from the foes that run after them. While the maid Mellent thanks Beltane for saving her life and is about to confess the truth, one of his men cries out for them to escape as he hears horsemen in great company coming their way. Belthane commands his men to leave him, wait at Hundleby Fen, and set their bowmen in every place of vantage.

Chapter X of the book "Beltane the Smith," by Jeffery Farnol is presented. It tells about how Beltane accepted the hangman Black Roger as a company after the man approached him during the evening. It highlights how Beltane saved the life of archer Giles for the second time from the hands of Sir Pertolope's men as well as how Black Roger, archer Giles and a hairy man helped him during the struggle in which Beltane lost consciousness and found himself in the care of these men.

Chapter VII of the book "Beltane the Smith," by Jeffery Farnol is presented. It focuses on Beltane's experiences on his journey outside the forest. It highlights his conversation with bowman Giles Brabblecombe whom Beltane met along the road. It also recounts their encounter with a dead deer and a man with his dead wife and child.

Chapter XIV of the book "BELTANE THE SMITH," by Jeffrey Farnol is presented. It narrates how the Beltane and Roger survived from their near-death experience after falling from the window of the enemy's dungeon in the forest. They were able to survive because of the assistance forwarded by an archer friar from their group. After gaining consciousness, Beltane called for support from the captives and requested them to proceed to the base and informed his people of the doom of the garrison.

A chapter from the book "Outdoor Adventure! Archery" is presented. It discusses the non-Olympic competitions where archers can compete such as the indoor archery where they can avoid terrain and weather challenges. It mentions the outdoor archery for longer-range shooting that follows a standard format consisting of a FITA round followed by an Olympic round. Field archery is cited as a fun competition where archers travel through a wooded course with ranges set up on different types of terrain.

A chapter from the book "Outdoor Adventure! Archery" is presented. It provides a primer on choosing a bow where an archer must first determine his draw length and draw weight. Draw length is defined as the distance that a person can draw an arrow which can be measured with the use of a yardstick. It points out that draw weight is measured by the amount of force needed to draw a bow at a given distance. It notes that accuracy is more important than strength in archery and that bows with draw weight of 100 pounds are not always the best choice.

A chapter from the book "Outdoor Adventure! Archery" is presented. It provides the equipment used by archer such as the bow equipment called tackle which is important for protection. It mentions that the shooting gloves or finger tabs protect the archers' hands and fingers and the arm guards to avoid the painful sting that can be felt when the bowstring hits the shooter's arm. It notes that some archers use stabilizers to absorb the vibrations that occur when an arrow is released.

A chapter from the book "Outdoor Adventure! Archery" is presented. It describes the basic parts of an arrow including the shaft, the cresting and the fletching. The shaft is the main body of an arrow while cresting is indicated as the marks on the shaft which archers use to identify their arrows. The feathers attached to arrow are called fletching which helps provide shooting accuracy and balances the weight of an arrowhead.

A chapter from the book "Outdoor Adventure! Archery" is presented. According to an instructor named Andy, the sport of archery needs years of practice to perfect the skills. Megan, a first time archer, hit the bull's eye the first time. She drew another arrow from her quiver to prove that luck had nothing to do with the first bull's eye.