SIR LANCELOT’S CRYPTIC CLUES

Across

9 An irrational thing – hesitation after oxygen becomes addictive stuff (5)

10 It may remove water and exhaust smoker (9)

11 Fool on sleeper is a criminal (9)

12 The artisan hides his compassion (5)

13 Miracle, rickshaw holding clergyman (6)

14 Quietly arguing about liberal skulking (8)

16 Runaway gets free movement without universal keys (7)

18 Island is a must, transporting artist (7)

20 Emerald shaken around his centre as a cure (8) 22 Wicked rascal next to river (6) 25 Distribute a great deal, by the sound of it (5) 26 Improving space with chain – terrible, no good (9)

28 Woman set scene, and daughter vanished (9) 29 American city on every tail, being a loan shark (5)

Down

1 Bird on board (4)

2 Religious man in the distance shows heart (6)

3 Sticking one politician on a fish (8)

4 Nowadays suitable to acclimatise (5)

5 Top stylist in musical encounter (9)

6 Hay now spread carelessly (6) 7 Hand holds broken nail – they’ve nearly won (8)

8 Created gin cocktail to scale (10)

13 Eccentric lecturer has a security device (4,6) 15 Debauchery for a number of years by new church (9) 17 Recognised a witch’s cat (8) 19 Drive a political group (8)

21 Note their problem and hesitate (6)

23 College query, mostly individual (6)

24 Obscure points had got included (5)

27 Reported appearance of men (4)