Document:

<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                               FIRST AMENDMENT TO
                        LOAN AGREEMENT DATED MAY 5, 2000
                                  BY AND AMONG
                             VENUS EXPLORATION, INC.
                            AND BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A.

                  This First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated May 5, 2000 (this
"First Amendment") by and between VENUS EXPLORATION, INC. (the "Borrower") and
BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A., a national banking association (the "Bank") is entered
into effective on the 25th day of August 2000.

                                   WITNESSETH:

                  Borrower and Bank entered into a Loan Agreement dated May 5,
2000 (the "Loan Agreement").

                  Borrower and Bank desire to amend the Loan Agreement and
certain of the Loan Documents in accordance with Sections 5.11 of the Loan
Agreement.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises herein
contained, the mutual benefits to be derived herefrom and other good and
valuable consideration received by each party, and each intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

I. Amendments to Loan Agreement.

                  Article I of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by adding
the following defined terms:

                  "First Amendment" means that certain First Amendment to this
                  Agreement dated August 8, 2000.

                  Article I of the Loan Agreement is hereby further amended by
replacing the following defined terms as follows:

                  "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Note, the Security
                  Instruments, the Hedge Agreement entered into pursuant to
                  Section 5.36 of this Agreement, all other Hedge Agreements
                  entered into between Borrower and Bank or any Affiliate of
                  Bank, and all other promissory notes, security agreements, and
                  other instruments, documents, and agreements executed and
                  delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, as
                  such instruments, documents, and agreements may be amended,
                  modified, renewed, extended, or supplemented from time to
                  time.

<PAGE>   2

                  "Obligations" means all obligations, indebtedness, and
                  liabilities of the Borrower to the Bank, now existing or
                  hereafter arising, whether direct, indirect, related,
                  unrelated, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint,
                  several, or joint and several, including, without limitation,
                  the obligations, indebtedness, and liabilities of the Borrower
                  under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the
                  documents assigned pursuant to the Assignment of Notes and
                  Liens, and all interest accruing thereon and all attorneys'
                  fees and other expenses incurred in the administration,
                  enforcement or collection thereof.

II. Amendment to Security Agreement. Section 2 of that certain Security
Agreement, Pledge and Financing Statement dated May 5, 2000 between Borrower and
Bank (the "Security Agreement"), such Security Agreement being one of the
Security Instruments executed and delivered pursuant to the Loan Agreement, is
amended by replacing the text immediately prior to the colon on the sixth line
of that Section to read as follows:

                  The Debtor hereby grants to Secured Party, to secure the
                  Obligations (as that term is defined in the Loan Agreement)
                  including, without limitation, the payment and performance in
                  full of all of the Indebtedness, a security interest in and a
                  lien on and so pledges and assigns to Secured Party all of the
                  Debtor's right, title and interest in, to and under the
                  following properties, assets and rights, in each case,
                  wherever located, all accessions and additions thereto, all
                  substitutions and replacements therefor, and all proceeds and
                  products thereof (all of the same being hereinafter called the
                  "Collateral")

III. Amendments to Wells Fargo Instruments. The Wells Fargo Security Instruments
shall continue in force and effect to secure the Obligations of Borrower
pursuant to the Loan Agreement, as hereby amended, and any reference to the
"Secured Indebtedness" or other descriptions of the obligations, indebtedness or
liabilities of Borrower secured by any such Wells Fargo Security Instruments
shall be deemed to refer to the Obligations of Borrower pursuant to the Loan
Agreement, as hereby amended. The Wells Fargo Security Instruments and other
documents and instruments assigned to Bank pursuant to the Assignment of Notes
and Liens, such assignment having been recorded as set forth on Exhibit "A"
attached hereto, are hereby amended by replacing the reference to Wells Fargo
Bank (Texas), N.A., whether as "Bank," "Lender," "Secured Party," "Mortgagee,"
"Beneficiary," "Assignee," "Grantee," "Payee" or "Trustee," together with its
address thereof, with Bank One, Texas, NA, 910 Travis, 6th Floor, Houston, Texas
77002, except that the reference to David Massin, as Trustee, together with his
address thereof, in (i) each Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment of Production,
Security Agreement and Financing Statement and (ii) each Mortgage, Credit Line,
Deed of Trust, Assignment of Production, Security Agreement and Financing
Statement listed on Exhibit "A" to the Assignment of Notes and Liens (as the
same may have been amended) is amended to refer to Arthur R. Gralla, whose
address is 910 Travis, 6th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002 who is hereby appointed
as successor Trustee under such mortgage documents described above.

<PAGE>   3

IV. Reaffirmation of Representations and Warranties. To induce the Bank to enter
into this First Amendment, Borrower hereby reaffirms, as of the date hereof, its
representations and warranties contained in Article IV of the Loan Agreement and
in all other documents executed pursuant thereto, and additionally represents
and warrants as follows:

         A. The execution and delivery of this First Amendment and the
         performance by the Borrower of its obligations under this First
         Amendment are within Borrower's power, have been duly authorized by all
         necessary corporate action, have received all necessary governmental
         approval (if any shall be required), and do not and will not contravene
         or conflict with any provision of law or of the certificate of
         incorporation, the articles of incorporation or bylaws of Borrower or
         of any agreement binding upon Borrower.

         B. This First Amendment represents the legal, valid and binding
         obligations of Borrower enforceable against Borrower in accordance with
         its terms subject as to enforcement only to bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the
         enforcement of creditors' rights generally.

         C. Since the date of the Loan Agreement, no change, event or state of
         affairs has occurred and is continuing which would constitute an Event
         of Default or an Unmatured Event of Default.

V. Defined Terms. Terms used herein that are defined in the Loan Agreement shall
have the same meanings herein, unless the context otherwise requires.

VI. Reaffirmation of Loan Agreement. This First Amendment shall be deemed to be
an amendment to the Loan Agreement, and the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby,
is hereby ratified, adopted and confirmed in each and every respect.

VII. Governing Law. THIS FIRST AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This First Amendment has been entered into in Harris
County, Texas, and it shall be performable for all purposes in Harris County,
Texas. Courts within the State of Texas shall have jurisdiction over any and all
disputes between the Borrower and the Bank, whether in law or equity, including,
but not limited to, any and all disputes arising out of or relating to this
First Amendment or any other Loan Documents; and venue in any such dispute
whether in federal or state court shall be laid in Harris County, Texas.

VIII. Severability. Whenever possible each provision of this First Amendment
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this First Amendment shall be prohibited
by or invalid under applicable law, such provision

<PAGE>   4

shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this
First Amendment.

IX. Execution in Counterparts. This First Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by the different parties on separate counterparts on
different dates, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
agreement.

X. Section Captions. Section captions used in this First Amendment are for
convenience of reference only, and shall not affect the construction of this
First Amendment.

XI. Successors and Assigns. This First Amendment shall be binding upon the
Borrower, the Bank and its respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to
the benefit of the Borrower, the Bank and the respective successors and assigns
of the Bank.

XII. Non-Application of Chapter 346 of Texas Finance Code. The provisions of
Chapter 346 of the Texas Finance Code (which regulates certain revolving loan
accounts and revolving tri- party accounts) are specifically declared by the
parties hereto not to be applicable to this First Amendment or any of the other
Loan Documents or to the transactions contemplated hereby.

XIII. NOTICE OF FINAL AGREEMENT. THE WRITTEN LOAN AGREEMENT, AS HEREBY AMENDED,
REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE BANK AND BORROWER AND MAY NOT BE
CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL
AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE
PARTIES.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Amendment
to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                      BORROWER:

                                      VENUS EXPLORATION, INC.

                                      By:
                                         Eugene L. Ames, Jr.
                                         Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                      BANK:

                                      BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A.

                                      By:
                                         Jonathan Gregory
                                         Vice President

<PAGE>   5

STATE OF TEXAS           )
                         )    )
COUNTY OF HARRIS         )

This instrument was acknowledged before me on August ___, 2000 by Eugene L.
Ames, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Venus Exploration, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, on behalf of said corporation.

                                     ------------------------------------
                                     Notary Public, State of Texas

STATE OF TEXAS           )
                         )    )
COUNTY OF HARRIS         )

This instrument was acknowledged before me on August ___, 2000, by Jonathan
Gregory, Vice President of Bank One, Texas, N.A., a national banking
association, on behalf of said national banking association.

                                     ------------------------------------
                                     Notary Public, State of Texas

<PAGE>   6

                                  EXHIBIT "A"

                               RECORDING SCHEDULE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        RECORDING
STATE             COUNTY                    DOCUMENT                                    INFORMATION
=====             ======                    ========                                    ===========
<S>               <C>                       <C>                                         <C>
Alabama           Fayette                   Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/19/00
                                            Security Interests                          Bk 2000/Pg 442
Kansas            Seward                    Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/15/00   #1387
                                            Security Interests                          Vol 516/Pg 635
                                                                                        Miscellaneous Records
Oklahoma          Grady                     Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/15/00   #6399
                                            Security Interests                          Bk 3198/Pg 148
                  Latimer                   Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/15/00   #001720
                                            Security Interests                          Bk 0556/Pg 0584
                  Seminole                  Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/15/00   #4719
                                            Security Interests                          Bk 2276/Pg 251
Texas             Atascosa                  Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/11/00   #37214
                                            Security Interests                          Bk 143/Pg 892
                  Crane                     Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/11/00   #78514
                                            Security Interests                          Vol 415/Pg 564
                  Crockett                  Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/12/00   #131960
                                            Security Interests                          Vol 582/Pg 769
                  Fort Bend                 Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/15/00   #2000039036
                                            Security Interests
                  Freestone                 Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/11/00   #0003147
                                            Security Interests                          Vol 1116/Pg 130
                  Hansford                  Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/11/00   #58783
                                            Security Interests                          Vol 273/Pg 596
                  Jasper                    Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/15/00   #135250
                                            Security Interests                          Vol 558/Pg 502
                  Lipscomb                  Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/11/00 #30952
                                            Security Interests                          Vol 392/Pg 83
                  Upton                     Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/11/00   #0124948
                                            Security Interests                          Vol 00690/Pg 00444
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   7

<TABLE>
<S>               <C>                       <C>                                         <C>
                  Wharton                   Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/12/00   #204662
                                            Security Interests                          Vol 367/Pg 492
Utah              Duchesne                  Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/12/00   #340683
                                            Security Interests                          Bk M0292/Pg 527
                  Uintah                    Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/16/00 Bk 731/Pg 481
                                            Security Interests                          #2000002755
W. Virginia       Barbour                   Assignment of Notes, Liens &                5/18/00   #16941
                                            Security Interests                          Bk 7/Pg 458
</TABLE><PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                                   DEMAND NOTE

                               (EMAKE CORPORATION)

$1,750,000                                                         July 13, 2000

         In consideration of the loan (hereinafter referred to as a "Loan")
Safeguard 2000 Capital, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "Lender"), has
made to eMake Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), and for
value received, the Borrower hereby promises to pay to the order of the Lender
or its assigns, at the Lender's office located at 103 Springer Building, 3411
Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19810, or at such other place in the continental
United States as the Lender may designate in writing, in lawful money of the
United States, and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of one
million seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,750,000).

         The unpaid principal balance of the Note shall be paid on the date
which is 60 days after the date of demand for payment by the Lender, or the date
which is one year from the date hereof, whichever first occurs.

         The Borrower hereby further promises to pay to the order of the Lender
or its assigns interest on the outstanding principal amount from the date
hereof, at an annual rate equal to the announced prime rate of the pnc Bank,
N.A. (the "Prime Rate") plus one percent (1%). Such interest rate shall be
changed when and as the Prime Rate changes. In addition, the Borrower shall pay
on demand interest on any overdue payment of principal and interest (to the
extent legally enforceable) at the fluctuating Prime Rate plus three percent
(3%).

         Interest shall be payable when the unpaid principal balance of the Note
is paid.

         All payments made on this Note (including, without limitation,
prepayments) shall be applied, at the option of the Lender, first to late
charges and collection costs, if any, then to accrued interest and then to
principal. Interest payable hereunder shall be calculated for actual days
elapsed on the basis of a 360-day year. Accrued and unpaid interest shall be due
and payable upon maturity of this Note. After maturity or in the event of
default, interest shall continue to accrue on the Note at the rate set forth
above and shall be payable on demand of the Lender.

         The outstanding principal amount of this Note may be prepaid by the
Borrower upon notice to the Lender in whole at any time or in part from time to
time without any prepayment penalty or premium; provided, that upon such payment
any interest due to the date of such prepayment on such prepaid amount shall
also be paid.

<PAGE>   2

         Notwithstanding anything in this Note, the interest rate charged hereon
shall not exceed the maximum rate allowable by applicable law. If any stated
interest rate herein exceeds the maximum allowable rate, then the interest rate
shall be reduced to the maximum allowable rate, and any excess payment of
interest made by the Borrower at any time shall be applied to the unpaid balance
of any outstanding principal of this Note.

         An event of default hereunder shall consist of:

         (i) a default in the payment by the Borrower to the Lender of principal
or interest under this Note as and when the same shall become due and payable;
or

         (ii) an event of default by the Borrower under any other obligation,
instrument, note or agreement for borrowed money, beyond any applicable notice
and/or grace period; or

         (iii) institution of any proceeding by or against the Borrower under
any present or future bankruptcy or insolvency statute or similar law and, if
involuntary, if the same are not stayed or dismissed within sixty (60) days, or
the Borrower's assignment for the benefit of creditors or the appointment of a
receiver, trustee, conservator or other judicial representative for the Borrower
or the Borrower's property or the Borrower's being adjudicated a bankrupt or
insolvent; or

         (iv) the admission in writing by Borrower of its inability to pay its
debts as they become due.

         Upon the occurrence of any event of default, interest shall accrue on
the outstanding balance of this Note at the Prime Rate plus three percent (3%),
the entire unpaid principal amount of this Note and all unpaid interest accrued
thereon shall, at the sole option of the Lender, without notice, become
immediately due and payable, and the Lender shall thereupon have all the rights
and remedies provided hereunder or now or hereafter available at law or in
equity.

         Any action, suit or proceeding where the amount in controversy as to at
least one party, exclusive of interest and costs, exceeds $100,000 ("Summary
Proceeding"), arising out of or relating to this Note, or the breach,
termination or validity thereof, shall be litigated exclusively in the Superior
Court of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Superior Court") as a summary
proceeding pursuant to Rules 124-131 of the Delaware Superior Court, or any
successor rules (the "Summary Proceeding Rules"). Each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) submits to the jurisdiction of the
Delaware Superior Court for any Summary Proceeding, (ii) agrees not to commence
any Summary Proceeding except in the Delaware Superior Court, (iii) waives, and
agrees not to plead or to make, any objection to the venue of any Summary
Proceeding in the Delaware Superior Court, (iv) waives, and agrees not to plead
or to make, any claim that any Summary Proceeding brought in the Delaware
Superior Court has been brought in an improper or otherwise inconvenient forum,
(v) waives, and agrees not to plead or to make, any claim that the Delaware
Superior Court lacks personal jurisdiction over it, (vi) waives its right to
remove any Summary Proceeding to the federal courts except where such courts are
vested with sole and exclusive jurisdiction by statute and (vii) understands and
agrees

<PAGE>   3

that it shall not seek a jury trial or punitive damages in any Summary
Proceeding based upon or arising out of or otherwise related to this Note and
waives any and all rights to any such jury trial or to seek punitive damages.

         In the event any action, suit or proceeding where the amount in
controversy as to at least one party, exclusive of interest and costs, does not
exceed $100,000 (a "Proceeding"), arising out of or relating to this Note or the
breach, termination or validity thereof is brought, the parties to such
Proceeding agree to make application to the Delaware Superior Court to proceed
under the Summary Proceeding Rules. Until such time as such application is
rejected, such Proceeding shall be treated as a Summary Proceeding and all of
the foregoing provisions of this Section relating to Summary Proceedings shall
apply to such Proceeding.

         If a Summary Proceeding is not available to resolve any dispute
hereunder, the controversy or claim shall be settled by arbitration conducted on
a confidential basis, under the U.S. Arbitration Act, if applicable, and the
then current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association (the "Association") strictly in accordance with the terms of this
Note and the substantive law of the State of Delaware. The arbitration shall be
conducted at the Association's regional office located closest to the Lender's
principal place of business by three arbitrators, at least one of whom shall be
knowledgeable in general business matters and one of whom shall be an attorney.
Judgment upon the arbitrators' award may be entered and enforced in any court of
competent jurisdiction. Neither party shall institute a proceeding hereunder
unless at least 60 days prior thereto such party shall have given written notice
to the other party of its intent to do so.

         Neither party shall be precluded hereby from securing equitable
remedies in courts of any jurisdiction, including, but not limited to, temporary
restraining orders and preliminary injunctions to protect its rights and
interests but such remedies shall not be sought as a means to avoid or stay
arbitration or a Summary Proceeding.

         The Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest and notice of
dishonor and protest, and also waives all other exemptions; and agrees that
extension or extensions of the time of payment of this Note or any installment
or part thereof may be made before, at or after maturity by agreement by the
Lender. Upon default hereunder the Lender shall have the right to offset the
amount owed by the Borrower against any amounts owed by the Lender in any
capacity to the Borrower, whether or not due, and the Lender shall be deemed to
have exercised such right of offset and to have made a charge against any such
account or amounts immediately upon the occurrence of an event of default
hereunder even though such charge is made or entered on the books of the Lender
subsequent thereto. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender, upon demand, all costs
and expenses, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and legal expenses,
that may be incurred by the Lender in connection with the enforcement of this
Note.

         Notices required to be given hereunder shall be deemed validly given
(i) three business days after sent, postage prepaid, by certified mail, return
receipt requested, (ii) one business day after sent, charges paid by the sender,
by Federal Express Next Day Delivery or other guaranteed delivery service, (iii)
when sent by facsimile transmission, or (iv) when delivered by hand:

<PAGE>   4

         If to the Lender:         Safeguard 2000 Capital, L.P.
                                   C/o Safeguard Delaware, Inc., General Partner
                                   103 Springer Building
                                   P.O. Box 7048
                                   Wilmington, DE  19803
                                   Attn: Treasurer
                                   Fax: 302-478-3667

         With a required copy to:  Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.
                                   800 The Safeguard Building
                                   435 Devon Park Drive
                                   Wayne, PA  19087
                                   Attn: Chief Financial Officer
                                   Fax:  610-293-0601

         If to the Borrower:       eMake Corporation
                                   2435 North Central Expressway
                                   Richardson TX 75080-2722
                                   Attn: Robert L. Drury, Vice President

or to such other address, or in care of such other person, as the holder or the
Borrower shall hereafter specify to the other from time to time by due notice.

         Any failure by the Lender to exercise any right hereunder shall not be
construed as a waiver of the right to exercise the same or any other right at
any time. No amendment to or modification of this Note shall be binding upon the
Lender unless in writing and signed by it. Any provision hereof found to be
illegal, invalid or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever shall not affect the
validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder hereof. This Note shall
apply to and bind the successors of the Borrower and shall inure to the benefit
of the Lender, its successors and assigns.

         The Note shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the
laws of the State of Delaware.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, by its duly authorized officer
intending to be legally bound hereby, has duly executed this Demand Note as of
the date first written above.

                                        eMAKE CORPORATION

                                        By: /s/ ROBERT L. DRURY
                                            --------------------------------
                                            Robert L. Drury, Vice President

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