30-MINUTE CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Retreat of a learner after

bad peck (9)

8 ...from apprehensive

bird (3)

9 I’ll deal with the matter of a request for a bequest (5,2,2,2)

11 Horsemen surround a lot of

marauders (7)

12 Led on, as in times past (5) 13 Empties collected from about 50 financial houses (6)

15 Is left to suffocate (6) 17 Reveal the tenancy has

been agreed? (3,2)

18 Get a quantity of paper on

account (7)

20 Early moment to sort out

deadly foe (6,5) 22 Somebody in London,

evidently (3)

23 Resolve to discourage with

explosive device (9)

DOWN

2 Current oriental crack sportsman (3) 3 A bit of quiet by the sound of

it (5)

4 Hate having half the side on

trial (6)

5 Prospect for the watch (4-3) 6 The oaf aimed to be early (5,2,4) 7 Nine cries that are not

genuine (9)

10 He has a beastly job keeping

things quiet (6,5)

11 Rising again, ringmaker found no

one up (9)

14 Benevolent Communist

relations (7)

16 Empty tin in tank (6)

19 Unique ergo is a bit odd (5) 21 Workers in some noisy

demonstrations (3)

PREVIOUS SOLUTION

Across: 7 Raisin; 8 Despot; 10 Mohican; 11 Exact; 12 Tees; 13 Nepal; 17 Llama; 18 Gala; 22 Gross; 23 Nearest; 24 Temper; 25 Opener. Down: 1 Primate; 2 Lighter; 3 Disco; 4 General; 5 Appal; 6 State; 9 Undermine; 14 Plaster; 15 Pageant; 16 Pasture; 19 Agate; 20 Forms; 21 Happy.