thecrosswords
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 It may be obtained from the girl at the tobacconist’s (7) 5 Could be there, but it quickly evaporates (5) 8 When one may have a change of scene during a break (2,3,8) 9 Positional defence (5) 10 The strength of the current? (7) 11 To occupy oneself, go into battle (6) 12 Ships turn back, waiting for a wind (6) 15 Restoration novel in authentic setting (7) 17 Pakistan’s greatest current asset (5) 19 It gives one no real alternative (7,6) 20 Still in bed, it’s assumed, when retired (3,2) 21 Doctor needs transfer to a city of China (7)
DOWN
1 All that is required for a girl’s name (5) 2 Rather old to be harnessing a horse? (7,2,1,3) 3 Meeting turns out to be full (7) 4 New owner heads north for fame (6) 5 Choose to act democratically (5) 6 Be strongly inclined to be an intellectual? (4,1,4,4) 7 They take no end of towels (7) 11 Are designed, then made of clay (7) 13 Please put in an old-fashioned way (7) 14 Not open for business, yet clinched the deal (6) 16 Shout of joy of one who gets over a minor operation (5) 18 Not smiling back (5)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Burdensome (7) 5 Indian tea-growing state (5) 8 Offensive self-assertion (13) 9 Pacific islands kingdom (5) 10 Climbing iron (7) 11 Austrian composer (6) 12 A forge (6) 15 Chivalrous (7) 17 Tendon (5) 19 Elucidation (13) 20 Save for future need (3,2) 21 Occupied (7)
DOWN
1 Sphere of activity (5) 2 New Zealand mountaineer (6,7) 3 Profound indignation (7) 4 Put an end to (6) 5 On the ocean (2,3) 6 Nepalese mountaineer (6,7) 7 Stonework (7) 11 Enchanting (7) 13 American breed of horse (7) 14 Make great effort (6) 16 Friendship (5) 18 Declined in power (5)