CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Disgusting attack (9) 8. Toffee-nosed old boy

pursues two directions (4) 9. Studies various diets it

was made up from (9) 11. Strange, our unconfirmed

report (6)

12. Involuntary act may earn a

blessing (6)

13. Peer is head of French race city for the most part (8)

16. Hit on the forehead to

intimidate (8)

20. Tailor-made bridge under which 25 Across passes (6)

21. The way to sing in Mario’s

operas (6)

23. Not going to bed with

horrible gutsy pain (7,2) 24. A little lower in the field (4) 25. Go on, idler, become a

boatman (9)

DOWN

2. Struggle awkwardly with

fish (8)

3. Bearing blossom in spring (6) 4. Account for the growing excitement felt as a climax is reached (8)

5. Take an ever-changing

course (4)

6. Teach in class (6)

7. Fictional king coming from

Borneo (6)

10. One cannot fight it alone (4) 14. Wager that two boys were

disloyal (8)

15. Bats sure muddled, it is hard

to understand (8)

16. Turning off a trunk route? (6) 17. Bird in oratorio Lehar

composed (6)

18. Deep-sounding fish (4)

19. Sensual redhead in the

waterway (6)

22. German hurried away from

Otranto (4)