DRIFTThe weird contraption was beyond doubt from Outside. From far away inSpace and far away in another dimension too ... and for all of that was avery homey common understandable thing.BY A. BERTRAM CHANDLERIllustrated by van DongenStanding on the boat deck by number three hatch the blonde saw theThird Officer walk to the wing of the bridge. What he was carrying wasindubitably a gin bottle. The Third threw the bottle out and away watchedit until it fell into the water well clear of the ships side then returned tothe wheelhouse. Later in the day that afternoon in fact the Third waspartnered with the blonde in a deck golf foursome.quotReally Jimmyquot she said quotyou officers go altogether too far.quotquotWhat do you meanquot he asked.quotDrinking on watch. I saw you dumping the empties this morning.quotquotIt was an empty all rightquot he told her quotbut it wasnt emptied on thebridge. It was one of the Mates. And it had a message in it.quotquotHow romantic Pirates Buried treasurequotquotNo. Just date and time and position of dumping. We do it for theHydrographic Office. It gives em data—if the bottles are ever pickedup—for their current charts and such. Drift and all that.quotquotI seequot she said.Jimmy Furness shifted uncomfortably. The grassy bank on which he waslying was not the most comfortable of couches he was sure that the stonethat he had found when first he sat down had left a large bruise on hisright hip. Already his right arm was numb with the weight of the girls head.And now of all things she had to talk about astronomy. She was as bad asthat blonde —what was her name—who during his last voyage had gotfar too interested in meteorology.quotWhats that bright one therequot asked the girl.quotJupiterquot said Furness.quotHas it got peoplequotquotI doubt