Simon Shuker Code-Cracker, 29-10-2022

The hints given at the start are: 23 = O and 26 = G.

开头给出的提示是：23 = O 和 26 = G。

Ko nga tohu i hoatu i te timatanga ko: 23 = O me 26 = G.

Take a look at the grid again. Our first task is to find a seven-lettered word (cell e6 down) that reads 3, O, 3, 6, 13, G. Experience tells us that any word longer than five and ending with G is likely to be ending in “I N G”. Let us try this (6 = I; 13 = N) and we then find ourselves with 3 = D for the word D O D G I N G. This sounds correct and we can now proceed to have the entire grid changed with our appropriate findings thus:

The next three words - CANNON, COGNOC, and CLING, are easy to deduce.

The three-lettered word at cell k4 across, L, 2, I comes into our focus next. The word can either be L A I or L E I with # 2 being either an ” A ” or a ” E “. “LAI” is a lyrical, narrative poem that often deals in adventure or romance, while “LEI” means a flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage and flowers for ornamental purposes. In the Pacific Islands, like in Hawaii, “LEI” means a bunch of chained circular flowers placed around the neck on festive seasons.

Yes, we decide to go with the the more used word of “LEI” instead of “LAI”. So we have # 2 = E.

We can now see the word “NECESSARY” clearly fitted into cell e11 across, can we not? So, # 1 = ” S “, # 10 = ” R “, and # 26 = ” Y “.

It is now easy to guess that # 7 = V for VIA (cell a10 across) and CREVICE (cell a7 down).

Then cell a1 across SEDA 5 IVE should be SEDATIVE, with # 5 representing the letter ” T “.

Now is almost at the end and it becomes easier. Cell c9 down where CA 21 IN is, the word is CABIN with #21 = B. #20 at cell f5 should be the letter ” Z ” to give the word from f5 across to be ZEBRA.

The word at cell m1 down AN 18 IETY should be ANXIETY with # 18 being ” X “. The word at cell g8 down SA 15 CER should be SAUCER, # 15 being the letter ” U “.

Cell i2 down, the word is STIRRUP, # 11 = P. This gives us PRISTINE in cell f13 across, and TAPE in cell e1 down. TSUNAMI is the next word we find in cell k7 down. # 16 = M. Then comes THYME in cell m9 down, with # 9 = H. This gives the word HUNT in cell j9 across. We are almost there at the finishing post.

There are now only five letters missing from the grid. Letters F, J, K, Q, and W. It is now so easy to guess that # 8 is ” F “, # 14 is ” Q “, # 12 is ” W “, # 24 is ” J “, and # 19 is ” K “.

ALL DONE NOW.