The Brain Teaser

ACROSS

1. Perhaps some curt person in a shop (8)

5. Weight of a contender in a cock-fight? (6)

10. Normal deterioration in three rhyming words (4,4,3,4)

11. Confident in the aim, but took no chances, it appears (7)

12. Descriptive of some vessels holding corn in that case (7)

13. A dog going around in a pram! (8)

15. Thing, perhaps, may go “bump” in it (5)

18. Time of enchantment (5)

20. Put on sale on a stall? (8)

23. Get round and above it, maybe (7)

25. He may get his man but the doctor will set him free (7)

26. Contest for the people of the Isle of

Man? (5-6,4)

27. Stylish way to prepare a letter (6)

28. Lacking leading lights, presumably (8)

DOWN

1. Sounds like one with a cold in the chest! (6)

2. As neat as a cabin fit for a Queen? (9)

3. It might be sad worn to the front (7)

4. Creature from an eastern country? (5)

6. Dog holding wood (7)

7. Is drawing them an art? (5)

8. The way to get the tamer in a pickle (8)

9. Cannibal who doesn't like females? (3-5)

14. Counted as being in the Forces? (8)

16. One of man's best friends, such as Hans Andersen (5,4)

17. Classified animal or human (8)

19. Effects a gradual change with time off at first (7)

21. Country or a Duce for it (7)

22. Those that eke out parking space? (6)

24. Oddly enough, it's in the centre of the River Geba! (5)

25. One of the big powers? (5)