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Orson, I think there are two elements to be coded: the four letters to be transformed into representations of appropriate semaphore letters and the ninth row (ICED WALKS NORTH) to be replaced by a Morse code representation of a name common to both S&A and Nansen's expeditions. It is this that is causing the 6,6 and 6,5 discussion, as the vessel Fram codes to six dashes and five dots and no-one so far - unless saoralba has cracked it; I have not had a PDM on the hint offered - has come up with a satisfactory 6,6.

Thanks, greengage. It is that name common to both expeditions which I cannot find on plot summaries and makes me think I have to buy and read the book. Those words Fram and Nansen are new to me today.

Very late to the party this week and labouring on north west corner. Hints on 7ac and 12ac would be appreciated.

Sorry - north east corner. Doh!

Smarite, dish becomes dosh so you need another slang word for money.

12a - misprint in first word. The first four letters of the answer are a word for a Japanese box for pills.

Thanks buzzb for your help sorting out the last two clues I needed. Now onto the last bit......

Can't give more hints than the two I've already offered without spelling it out!

I too was *really* worried about why the coding should be applied to that line instead of any of the others... it seemed too arbitrary. Ho hum, I sent off my solution with the 6,5 already - wouldn't be fair to "win" this one off the back of the combined brainpower of a whole forum anyway!

If we're still looking for a four letter word, using 12 (6 each) code options, to fit into 14 characters, that leaves a maximum of 2 spaces, so my idea of four sequences each separated by a space would appear to be ruled out. Hum. Clearly I've been sent down a (very wintry) garden path.

Thanks Orson - your hints were just what I needed!