Handwriting experts, called in by the Psych staff, agreed that Laughlin’s last entry showed signs of emotional upset. But both men’s handwriting showed a slow increase of tension throughout the Log, mounting sharply after the landing on Mars, and more swiftly again during the month since the sampling and mapping were finished, until the day of Laughlin’s departure. The next entry, after the missing four pages, was Wendt’s, on April 29, at 1816 hours: “Laughlin gone out alone without notice. No signals from sand cat. I do not believe he plans to return. Tire tracks visible from cargo lock point N39W. Going out in heli now, no flight plan, will follow tracks. Carrying four hours fuel, standard 24-hr oxy-water etc. Figure two hours tot. flight time, unless I find him in trouble. Tape 237, a-6.” The next notation, at 2129 hours, said briefly: “No luck. Lost tracks in hills. Saw what looked like sand cat dust trail at N32W on other side. Going out again now, with six hours fuel. Oxy-water, 12 hrs. Tape 237, a-9.” Then: “4/30/75, 0110--Dust storm, 50 mi. past previous flight limit. N32W dust cloud could have been storm approaching. Any tracks will be covered now. Will commence standard search pattern, 3-hr. flights, when storm passes.” Half an hour later, at 0048: “Thought I’d catch a nap till storm let up, but might as well get the story down, as much as I know, before I forget anything. Doug left the ship sometime between 2315 (approx) last night and 0650 this morning (Mars-time. eq: 1108 and 1754, 4/29/75). Most likely he left just before I woke up, say between--” Here, the Mars time had been written in and scratched out, and Earth time (which was Standard Log procedure), written in instead. “--1745, say, and 1754. This is hunch mostly, I think the sound of the airlock might have been what woke me, since I did not actually go to sleep till an hour or more after 1108, when I went to my bunk, and I was surprised to see the time when I woke. Usually sleep longer. Was not aware of what woke me (if anything) at first, and did not take special notice of Doug’s absence. Assumed he was sleeping. Got dressed, started making breakfast, then noticed panel signal that a sand cat was out--but no beeps coming in. Checked Doug’s bunk, which was empty. Checked Log, for his trip plan. Found missing pages. Checked time; then 1812. Found dust cloud that _could_ have been cat trail on scope at N37W. Proceeded on first search, as noted, at 1816. “Throughout first search, I kept helmet radio tuned for automatic signals from cat, except for a five minute waveband search every half hour after trying helmet-radio calls. No signals received. “Storm seems to be mostly past now. Will now commence search pattern.” Fuel and oxy-water data and signal tape reference numbers followed.