CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Track followed by an Afghan (6)

4 Final victor (8)

9 Happy medium condition? (6)

10 What the bride says afterwards is not in

church (8)

12 Sound reflection (4)

13 One of three soldiers using strange oaths (5) 14 Nelson held her in high esteem maybe (4) 17 Interpretation which requires some

building up (12)

20 Exalted status of one on a rostrum? (4,8) 23 Not the sole order dogs learn to obey (4) 24 Guard marking time (5)

25 Reader’s plea for original expression (4) 28 An outrage otherwise concealed by

ill-will (8)

29 Bird you may buy or part exchange (6) 30 Get hard ideas changed or reject

them? (3,5)

31 Mend a broken marriage? (6)

DOWN

1 Operetta featuring just one player? (8)

2 It is involved with change in education (8) 3 Chief means of support (4)

5 Not a dry subject, but dictators shy from it (12)

Has four legs but goes on one foot (4) Eventually observing the correct rhythm (2,4)

Usual or unusual Roman number (6) Resolute, due to threats perhaps (5-7)

Beer mug I sent for (5)

Heap on mud the wrong way (5)

A queenly carriage? (8)

He causes trouble in a washing machine perhaps (8)

21 They were a revolutionary invention (6) 22 News about wine (6)

26 Novelist makes friends in France (4) 27 Capture a scene on film (4) 6 7

8 11 15 16 18 19

DOWN

1 Franchise (8) 2 Purposelessness (8)

3 Bit of fun (4)

5 Brave a hostile audience

(4,3,5)

6 Class (4) 7 Counterbalance (6) 8 Natural aptitude (6) 11 Directions for use (12) 15 Disparage (5)

16 Intense agitation (5) 18 Of solid worth (8) 19 Recurring regularly (8) 21 By preference (6) 22 Small freshwater fish (6) 26 Refuse to obey (4) 27 Passable (4)