{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Warded off quiet raider in disguise (7)
4 An animal or bird that runs from left to right (5)
7 A singular occasion (4)
8 Some rain upset the gypsies (8)
10 Bring about - a rocket’s launch? (4,4,2)
12 Quiet little brook anything but quiet (6)
13 Recover one’s possession? (6)
15 Speak about nothing in particular (10)
18 Theatrical account? (8)
19 Leader of conspiracy gets a long time in the pen (4)
20 Those reformed show spirit (5)
21 Origin of the first book (7)
DOWN
1 A point in favour of New Guinea initially (5)
2 Hope for the lost and the sick (8)
3 Liable to drop off ? (6)
4 Sort of lady we hate to go before (4,3,3)
5 Leading sea power (4)
6 He emerged in a USSR shake-up (7)
9 People are genuinely moved by its high-wire performance (7,3)
11 Head south for the big cities (8)
12 Church eminence (7)
14 It provides some standing for a girl on stage (3,3)
16 Level betting for the first woman to get two points (5)
17 A quarter refuse to bathe (4)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Game plan (7)
4 Full range (5)
7 Over-hasty (4)
8 Under an obligation (8)
10 Lasting briefly (10)
12 Unimpaired (6)
13 Real (6)
15 Philadelphus (4,6)
18 Easy good nature (8)
19 Disastrous (4)
20 Slightly drunk (5)
21 Use of artillery (7)
DOWN
1 Fortune-telling card set (5)
2 Injured person (8)
3 Gracefully slender (6)
4 Make public statement (2,2,6)
5 Way of doing (4)
6 Melodious (7)
9 Science of the mind (10)
11 Count for nothing (3,2,3)
12 Restrain (7)
14 A winter sport (6)
16 Foe (5)
17 Speak testily (4)