THE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Good man, competent and reliable (6) 4 Directions leading many a beast to make a getaway (6)

9 Sluggish movement of a train that is vandalised (7)

10 Officer in difficult situation turned to other ranks (5)

11 But it's not an impediment to getting a lift (5)

12 A row outside the Spanish workshop (7) 13 What the unpopular candidate will do? (5,2,4) 18 Mount that is dangerous when active (7) 20 Saucy thing to cut (5) 22 Exceedingly angry quartet breaking cover (5) 23 Dealt in kettles and saucepans, for instance? (7)

24 Young swimmers in wild revels (6) 25 Recent change of heart (6)

Down

1 Small, underweight and of little importance (6)

2 Rep may get an order (5) 3 Understand the door is locked (5,2) 5 Some thousand held captive in battle (5) 6 Meets Sid and Joan when out (7)

7 Slips in proofs of humanity? (6)

8 He's after a feline with a strip of leather calamity! (11)

14 Manservant rises before four in Israel (3,4) 15 Grant permission to break silence (7) 16 Develop part of a revolver (6)

17 A game one may come across (6) 19 A summer danger (5)

21 He flies a good deal (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Tyrant (6)

4 A bird of prey (6)

9 Praise insincerely (7)

10 Feel malicious pleasure (5) 11 Transparent (5)

12 Small water cask (7) 13 Beyond permitted limits (3,2,6) 18 Angry disagreement (7) 20 Impudent language (5) 22 Foreign (5)

23 Towing vehicle (7)

24 Sawn timber (6)

25 Almost (6)

DOWN

1 Shortcoming (6) 2 Smooth in manner (5) 3 Canadian province (7) 5 To dispute (5) 6 Dishonest (7) 7 Disposition (6) 8 Likelihood (11) 14 Radioactive metallic element (7)

15 Steal attention from (7) 16 Sudden strong wind (6) 17 Disclose treacherously (6) 19 Chain of mountains (5) 21 Publish (5)