Meanings of loose drift in English

The loose drift of character, the inkling through random types, the solidification;

Here they saw an enormous herd of walruses, lying piled up over each other on the loose drift ice.

Allan dug the toe of his sandal into the loose drift of dead leaves and pine-spills that littered the broad piazza.

To struggle through the deep, loose drifts, reaching frequently to the waist, required, at any time, fearful exertion.

"Shut off steam!" cried the Major, running to close the hole with the loose drift, while Paganel pondering on the singular phenomenon muttered to himself: