PUBLIC phys_clicks alloc_mem(clicks)
phys_clicks clicks;
{
  register struct hole *hp, *prev_pt;
  phys_clicks old_base

  do {
        prev_ptr = NIL_HOLE;
        hp = hole_head;

        while (hp != NIL_HOLE && hp->h_base < swap_base) {
                if (hp->h_len >= clicks) {
                        old_base = hp->h_base;
                        hp->h_base += clicks;

                        if(hp->h_base > high_watermark) {
                                 high_watermark = hp->h_base;
                        }

                        if(hp->h_len == 0) del_slot(prev_ptr, hp);

                        return(old_base);
                }
                
                prev_ptr = hp;
                hp = hp->h_next;

        }

  } while( swap_out() );

  return(NO_MEM);
}