The Puzzler

By Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

AMAZEMENT

Each Across row accommodates two words totaling 11 letters; these words are clued in order. Meanwhile, a trail of 18 Maze words winds through the diagram from the upper left corner to the lower right. These words are clued in sequential order, but solvers will find that in 11 squares of the diagram the Maze words fail to intersect the Across words. Solvers are encouraged to circle the Across letters in these 11 cases; an appropriate phrase will result. Answers include six proper nouns.

See page 124 for Puzzler contest details. The solution to last month’s Puzzler appears on page 110.

ACROSS

1. Journeys through first of twists and tangles (7)

Crack man (4)

2. Shorter person throwing? (5)

Top of peak in a row of high mountains (6)

3. Diminutive, like a young person? (5)

Eccentric bachelor’s steps to music (6)

4. Some literature methods never initiated (4)

Cheap shot finally taken by cleric (7) (hyphenated)

5. Ignoring the tip, rate grass of a sort (4)

Man with a band in audition (7)

6. Governmental drug-fighting group runs expensive (4)

Drunk keeps broadcasting TV show (7)

7. Intricately pass through most of the study (6)

Took a horse out roping and bucking? (5)

8. Delicatessen product I’m sadly returning (6)

Direct hit at last in Witness (5)

9. Rent includes piece of this cake (5)

Enchantress in possession of large ring (6)

10. One who asked for a head start of sorts, running lame around loop (6)

Jazz pianist returned most of change (5)

11. Gets sharp with the new school (5)

Show how to get rid of some Scots? (6)

MAZE

a. Famous on many levels? (7)

b. Wheels back into the Balkan area (6)

c. Painter of French showers (6)

d. Each engine’s starting—really (5)

e. Speak of sequential flakes? (6)

f. Cooks like getting into spoils (6)

g. After wan, sound beat (5)

h. Bags containing masculine symbols (6)

i. Turned frosty and made a marriage destroyed (9)

j. Normal Navy on river going to the Caspian Sea (7)

k. Flag left in cesspool (5)

L. Land one behind the front of the jaw (5)

m. Coin put inside something small, round, and green (6)

n. Spanish area arranged in History of Life (6)

o. Place to see, according to word of mouth (4)

p. Trace newspaper’s central piece of writing (8)

q. Hem in red gingham (6)

r. Idea of our opponents taking stuff of mine? (7)

NOTE: The instructions above are for this month’s puzzle only. It is assumed that you know how to decipher clues. For a complete introduction to clue-solving, send an addressed, stamped envelope to The Atlantic Puzzler, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. 02116.

PUZZLER CONTEST

Send your solved “Amazement” (page 125) to: The Atlantic, October Puzzler Contest, 745 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. The Atlantic will randomly draw three names from among all correct entries received by October 12. The winners’ names will be published in the December issue. In addition, each of the winners may choose two cryptic crossword books from The Crossword Bookstore.

Rules: Only one entry per person allowed. No purchase necessary. No entries can be returned. All decisions are final. The Atlantic is not responsible for late or lost mail. Contest open to residents of the U.S. and Canada, 18 years or older, except employees of The Atlantic and their immediate families. Winners will be notified by mail. Contest void where prohibited and subject to all state, federal, and local laws and regulations.

WATCH THIS SPOT FOR SEPTEMBER’S WINNERS!

Answers to the September Puzzler

“HEX”

What might come out of a spelling bee? Honeyed words. l.W(HE)ELS (slew rev.) 2. REBATES (anag.) 3. BO(HEM-I)A 4. GARETH (hidden) 5. REBUILD (anag.) 6. BARRI(st)ER 7. WA(BA)SH 8. NEWBO-RN (web on anag.) 9. COMB-IN-E 10. ME-OWED 11. DEMUR-E 12. B(lLL)ER (Reb rev.) 13. BEG-ON-IA 14. BRI(BIN)G 15. B(R-IMM)ED (MMI + r rev.) 16. RED(E)YE 17. BE-A-R(D)ED 18. PUDDLE (anag.) 19. LE(BAN)ON (rev.) 20. BU(t)GA(s)-BOO(m) 21. B(OUR)REE (beer anag.) 22. RE-DOUBT 23. EARB-ONE. (bare anag.) 24. HA([t]UBE)RK 25. PATRI-A (anag. + a) 26. A-US(T)-IN 27. TU(GBOA)T (a bog anag.) 28. F(ORB)EAR 29. HOBO-KEN 30. B(ET)ROTH 31. S-TROLL 32. ST-ROBES 33. SARTRE (anag.) 34. ENTE-BB-E (teen anag.) 35. REGNA-L (anger rev.) 36. PLIABLE (anag.) 37. PE-OPLE (lope anag.)