THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Game in the form of a puzzle (6) 4 A launch in the water (6) 9 Supernatural calm created round a soldier (7) 10 Condition under which a horse races (5) 11 Name for a fight, perhaps (5) 12 Held up, though the road is finished (7) 13 Stylish plastic (11) 18 Fruit ran short outside (7) 20 American Indian transfixed by a tomahawk (5) 22 Love only upsets a fool (5) 23 Prospects denied the introvert? (7) 24 One may get stains on these materials easily enough (6) 25 North African takes half a number and doubles it (6)

DOWN

1 Hostility is here yet I’m resolved about one point (6) 2 Bar some but admitting others (5) 3 Be match for a Shakespearean tragedy (7) 5 Raid or fight about nothing (5) 6 Eccentric strange dance (7) 7 Tried a form of abuse (6) 8 Leisurely activity at the hunt ball? (4,7) 14 Dry wine for those taking flight (7) 15 Possibly one of twelve Poles at variance (7) 16 The balance mounts (6) 17 He’s not making any advance - except in business (6) 19 A yarn about a European (5) 21 Mob breaks up after sailor produces weapon (1-4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Cure (6) 4 Credence (6) 9 Large North American deer (7) 10 Complete (5) 11 Infantile paralysis (5) 12 Obliterate (7) 13 Stingy (5-6) 18 Track beside canal (7) 20 Innate ability (5) 22 Unaccompanied (5) 23 Messenger of Roman gods (7) 24 Make a gift of (6) 25 Cause to be loved (6)

DOWN

1 Cooking instructions (6) 2 A wall painting (5) 3 Of doubtful merit (7) 5 Fit out (5) 6 Deeply felt (7) 7 Counterfeiter (6) 8 Empirical method (4,2,5) 14 The inside facts (7) 15 Shade of orange (7) 16 Very near (2,4) 17 Invocation (6) 19 Vigilant (5) 21 Severe (5)