8
$\begingroup$

This is fairly simple. Solve the 3 cryptics here to know how the 4th was encrypted.
Once you've done that, solve the 4th and that's the answer to this little puzzle.

Proclaim hazily, "dear cel"!(7)
Indiana and Delaware hanging free. (11)
Triumvirates of excursion permits(8)

1 1 1 1 3 2 1 6 4 1 7 5 1 16 2 1 17 8 1 18 5 1 21 3 1 24 3 1 27 6 1 36 2 1 45 3? 1 48 1 1 51 1 1 62 5 1 63 2 1 47 7 1 65 4 1 68 1 1 72 1 1 73 2 1 78 4 1 81 2 1 82 3 1 83 5 1 88 4 1 100 3 1 101 3 1 103 3 1 144 5 1 158 3 1 163 3 1 169 1! (5)

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ FIrst clue is easy. $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Dec 14, 2016 at 15:35

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
9
$\begingroup$

The clues have answers

DECLARE INDEPENDENT TRIPLETS.

Explanations:

Anagram ("hazily") of "dear cel" meaning "proclaim"; IN + DE + PENDENT meaning "free"; TRIP + LETS meaning "triumvirates".

So I guess

each set of three numbers is used to look something up in the Declaration of Independence; perhaps e.g. it's paragraph number, word number, letter number or something. The triples are (i,j,k) where i=1 always, j increases and gets as high as 169, and k is always fairly small.

This seems to work, kinda, if we

ignore i, treat j as a (1-based) word index within the whole DoI, and treat k as a (1-based) character index within each word. (Where a word has an apostrophe, we keep it.)

The result is:

What has no end? Gale's two feet of beluga! (5)

I take it this is a cryptic clue but I am still trying to work out the answer.

... But while I was thinking about it, Techidiot (in TSL) provided the answer:

WHALE (WHA(t) + (ga)LE, and there is a beluga whale as well as the more famous beluga sturgeon).

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
6
  • $\begingroup$ Your second word is incorrect. The one you have is 12 letters and you need an 11 letter one. Although this is pretty much just pedantry $\endgroup$
    – dcfyj
    Dec 14, 2016 at 15:56
  • $\begingroup$ You know what? I wrote the correct one first and then "corrected" it to what you see now because that seemed more likely in view of what was obviously going to be done with the numbers :-). I'll fix it. $\endgroup$
    – Gareth McCaughan ♦
    Dec 14, 2016 at 15:57
  • $\begingroup$ (I've fixed it now.) $\endgroup$
    – Gareth McCaughan ♦
    Dec 14, 2016 at 15:57
  • $\begingroup$ Also, (when you get around to it/have time) could you explain the wordplay/definition of each cryptic? $\endgroup$
    – dcfyj
    Dec 14, 2016 at 15:58
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @dcfyj Pedantry or pendentry? $\endgroup$
    – Rand al'Thor
    Dec 14, 2016 at 16:01

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.