CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Experts lead prisoners to see things from both sides (4,3,4)

9 Suffered a hitch at a Caribbean island resort (5)

10 Find a leading clergyman to be exact (8) 12 Attempted to have a run, but stayed behind (7)

13 Is about to deal with others, on the way back (7)

14 One of the 3 down carried by Roman soldiers (5)

15 Is about to draw back in good order. It’s quite satisfying (9)

18 Saw the Observer before the boss, on paper (9)

20 One’s abandoned an Asian state for another (5)

21 Old prescriptions used in the preparation of meals (7)

24 In South Africa, one takes ages to make a spear (7) 25 Something added that’ s easily understood, and so on (8)

26 Girl that’s followed by a little orphan (5) 27 In Europe, station men to build a small house (11)

DOWN

2 Understand how to make money (7)

3 Flags up accepted criteria for precious metals (9)

4 It’s more pleasant to be in a French resort, right at the end (5)

5 Clergyman cut short, or a museum custodian (7)

6 Can get back, about to produce saltpetre (5) 7 Warn her to eat out, at the end, using pottery (11)

8 Is unqualified, going in the wrong direction (8)

11 Denounced the process of one being branded (11)

16 Knowing about extra run at a late vigil (4,5) 17 Is ending it, in a way, when in great need (8) 19 Put things into words without stopping (7) 20 Some pre-prepared food and drink can be very quick (7)

22 About to get over the top with a type of vestment (5)

23 Get back, in the main, from eastern Europe (5)