{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Benefit a few and suffer for it (5)
4 Cursed, having spilt the salt in bed (7)
8 Rubbish put round the hill (3)
9 Its ups and downs may be studied by the pilot (4,5)
10 I join two hundred in a game that’s played (7)
11 Money belt (5)
13 Given support or cast out (6)
15 Shy and put out when spots appear (6)
18 A way always short and direct (5)
19 Officer’s responsibility given to the men (7)
21 A dog hunts? This sort does (9)
23 Note Eastern animal (3)
24 Apparently an off-day for twelve (7)
25 For those not wishing to take flight (5)
DOWN
1 A support thus put up is appropriate (7)
2 Take choir in a new version of what may follow ‘Jerusalem’ (9)
3 Much attached to a game of chance (5)
4 A scoundrel not worth bidding for (3,3)
5 A stiff examination (7)
6 Check the night-flier has turned up (3)
7 Anxiety shown by redhead coming in late (5)
12 Foe had run into unprecedented difficulty (7-2)
14 Had tree replaced, safe from lightning (7)
16 A send-up on board produced melancholy (7)
17 Busy tenant (6)
18 It’s South Africa in the sun for her (5)
20 A sitter, for example (5)
22 An attempt in the past (3)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Small bit (5)
4 Meantime (7)
8 North Atlantic food fish (3)
9 Obtained dishonestly (3-6)
10 Model of perfection (7)
11 Source of fear (5)
13 Sudden stab of pain (6)
15 Treat leniently (3,3)
18 Scene of struggle (5)
19 A German porcelain (7)
21 Having secret agreement (2,7)
23 By way of (3)
24 Single eyeglass (7)
25 In good time (5)
DOWN
1 Pilot’s compartment (7)
2 Being attacked (5,4)
3 Attract (5)
4 Ticking over (6)
5 Disturb (7)
6 Decay (3)
7 Virile (5)
12 Explain away (5,4)
14 Vividly described (7)
16 Illusion (7)
17 Force on others (6)
18 Self-evident truth (5)
20 Publication (5)
22 Metal container (3)