Three explorers set off on an expedition to be the first to arrive at the South Pole, only to find a thriving civilization
when they get there. The chief of this community told the explorers, “We have but one law here. Don’t step on any penguins.”
The explorers looked about them, seeing penguins everywhere. It was almost impossible not to step on one. Sure enough,
almost immediately, one of the explorers accidentally steps on a penguin.
The chief passes swift punishment: “For your crime, you must marry one of our ugly women!”
The very next day, try as he might to avoid it, a second explorer accidentally steps on a penguin. Again, the chief arrives
and forces him to marry one of the tribe’s extremely ugly women.
The third explorer observed what happened to his fellow travellers, and not wanting to be forced to marry an ugly woman,
is VERY careful of where he steps. He manages to go for months without stepping on any penguins. One day, the chief arrives
with the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, and tells the explorer that they are to be wed immediately.
The explorer turns to his new bride and says, “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I wonder what I did to
deserve being married to you?”
The woman replies, “I don’t know about you, but I stepped on a penguin.”