thecrosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Difficulty with a gear (11)

9 A girl sent round transport for the sailors (7)

10 A friend joins mother in Majorca (5) 11 Not a gentleman I judge under Moslem law (4)

12 They will keep on watch in the ship (8) 14 I creep around being useful to the cook (6)

16 German doctor returns in a cab (6)

18 Yet he stands at the head of the board (8) 19 Ring in which a lover invested? (4) 22 Expect a group of outstanding singers (5) 23 Girl Virginia left beside the lake (7) 24 Shoplifters are all for these stores! (4-7)

DOWN

2 Thought a great many were employed (5) 3 Made-up cheese (4)

4 They have small parts in a big picture (6) 5 Particular mixture of ale and spice (8) 6 Clerks at the information desk? (7) 7 Expert on current problems (11) 8 Redeeming feature of a kidnapping (6,5) 13 Upset if pirate is served first (8)

15 A play on words? (7)

17 The French rave about grubs (6) 20 Maurice has a heart of gold (5)

21 East European not quite in bondage (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Low-value coins (5,6) 9 Endanger (7)

10 Line of mountains (5) 11 An alcoholic drink (4) 12 Leave behind (8) 14 Method (6)

16 Bodily condition (6) 18 Obsessively anxious (8) 19 German married woman (4) 22 Financially sound (5) 23 Nurture (7) 24 Mile-deep US gorge (5,6)

DOWN

2 Wood used for flooring (5) 3 Skulk (4)

4 Blush (6)

5 Brought to a halt (8) 6 Army commander (7) 7 Commerce on grand scale (3,8) 8 Cogitation (4,7) 13 Indebted (8) 15 Repulsive dirtiness (7) 17 Alfresco meal (6)

20 Large horned animal (5) 21 Destroy by fire (4)