12 JANUARY 1968, Page 25

COMPETITION

No. 483: The word game

Competitors are invited to use the following ten words, taken from the opening passages of a well-known work of literature, in the order given, to construct part of a narrative, essay, speech, advertisement, newspaper report or other coherent piece of prose. Any number of words can intervene to a maximum total of 150. Entries, marked 'Competition,' must be in by 22 January.

The words: annual, scattered, contentious, authority, suspended, kings, fox, stoned, epileptic, lairds.

In addition to the usual prizes, a special prize of one guinea will be awarded to the first entry opened that correctly identifies the book from which the words were chosen.