All rocks are more porous than glass, and hence the ocean bottom everywhere permits the water, by the force of pressure and capillarity, to seep into the bowels of the earth. The rate of the seepage will depend on the depth of the sea, the porosity of the underlying rock and the temperature. Owing to the pressure at great depths in the earth's crust the rate of seepage would diminish, but it is increased by the effect of high temperature, which causes the steam to diffuse in the earth, just as gases have been found to do in hot steel under experiment. That water readily diffuses and steam is abundantly absorbed in hot rocks is proved by the vast clouds of vapor given off by molten lava as it pours from a volcano. Water, chiefly from the oceans, may seep down into the earth until it comes in contact with hot rocks, then steam develops, and when the accumulation is great enough the earth is shaken till the strata move at the nearest fault lint, of a volcano becomes active. The experiments made in France by the veteran geologist Dau-bree many years ago show that water and steam may by force of capillarity enter a region of greater counter pressure and actually increase the pressure within, thus accumulating a subterranean strain which will eventually cause an earthquake or a volcanic eruption.