CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Small bird of prey to get drunk with ale (6)

4. A US soldier, at being held by Ted, got somewhat disturbed (8)

9. Poem for a child with a bit of fishing equipment (6) 10. Dead as what gets a hammering on the way in? (8) 12. Military order changing order of 6 (5,4)

13. Five awkwardly tear about to turn it aside (5)

14. An interval to bury one of 20 with one getting on (12) 18. Markings of true values of basic or Latin characters (12) 21. Prone to being an Ananias? (5)

22. Talus, blank one perhaps, around the East (5-4) 24. Ornamental climber baffles wits with song from opera (8) 25. Tank top will three-quarters turn and semi-retire (6) 26. He lives where he beheaded Lincoln, say (8) 27. Carrying the can, lad, and so getting MBE (6)

DOWN

1. Rapturous act, etc, is confusing (8)

2. Bangs out a variety of war vessels (8)

3. Put across separately to get one standing a seat (5) 5. Tennis shot begins to go round man in boat (6-6) 6. A reversal, facing round another order for 12 (9) 7. Varlet turned out to be a voyager (6)

8. Add water to it with duel? (6)

11. The cleansing of fur cap I twice turn into (12) 15. Back-protector may describe the action (9) 16. Initials in a design among more curtailed form (8) 17. Agreed to being posted as Ed was around (8) 19. We replace nothing taken out of floor by bloom (6) 20. Feels the absence of unmarried ladies (6)

23. The same as being up to it? (5)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 7. Indefatigable 8. Permanently 12. Dotage 14. Novice

16. Strode 18. Result 19. Flower vases 23. Lets well alone

Down: 1. Snap 2. Peer 3. Damage 4. Pigeon 5. Vast 6. Clay 9. Enthral

10. Leisure 11. Cent 12. Dose 13. God 15. Owe 17. Eleven 18. Revile

19. Flew 20. Oast 21. Sole 22. Song