{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Speak indistinctly, having knocked back a double rum (6)
4 Opportunities for introductions (8)
9 Monotony I find in strangely muted setting (6) 10 Riled tiger ate bird (8)
12 Stick around a street (4)
13 Turn out a bad scholar? (5)
14 Mark a little less carefully (4)
17 Get the job and take a place to work (6,6) 20 Perhaps I still desire stimulating drinks produced by them (12)
23 Get carried away (4)
24 It’s light and portable (5)
25 Still one might doubt its existence (4)
28 Licensed carrier (5,3)
29 Fellow after a gnu, perhaps, is armed (6)
30 All the money that may be made with apples, perhaps (8)
31 Doesn’t become the worse for drink (6)
DOWN
1 Motherly resolution to alter man (8)
2 I can read somehow in bright light (8)
3 Wild ox was in favour, usually (4)
5 Priority shown by the vain resident? (5,2,5) 6 Usual amount and not a large number (4) 7 Warning - the water must be above freezing point (6)
8 Cattle drives (6)
11 Descriptive of those who always contrive to tie on extra (12)
15 Rent a seaside place in Croatia (5)
16 Suitable group to play an eightsome reel? (5) 18 Communications worker who makes a sporting decision? (8)
19 Allotted as indicated (8)
21 Supply lines (6)
22 Newspaperman to be found in dire trouble (6) 26 After hesitation leave thus (4)
27 Back one’s fancy in a leisurely craft? (4)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 To notice (6)
4 Shrink (8)
9 Capricious (6)
10 Plan of campaign (8) 12 Sole (4)
13 18 holes (5)
14 Narrow Scottish valley (4) 17 Too much to tolerate (12) 20 Severe reprimand (8-4) 23 Candid (4)
24 Loud call (5)
25 For fear that (4) 28 Grotesque imitation (8) 29 Speak ill of (6)
30 Quick witty reply (8)
31 To each one (6)
DOWN
1 Narcissus (8)
2 Needing delicate handling (8) 3 Young horse (4)
5 Showy (12)
6 Group working together (4) 7 Ancient (3-3)
8 Difficult (6)
11 The Establishment (6,4,2) 15 Blazing (5)
16 Captain of The Bounty (5) 18 Headlong plunge (8) 19 Example (8)
21 Muzzle-loading cannon (6) 22 Abscond (6)
26 Sustain (4)
27 Twist out of shape (4)