From “the devil and tom walker” tom looked in the direction that the stranger pointed, and beheld one of the great trees, fair and flourishing without, but rotten at the core, and saw that it had been nearly hewn through, so that the first high wind was likely to blow it down. on the bark of the tree was scored the name of deacon peabody, an eminent man, who had waxed wealthy by driving shrewd bargains with the indians. 2.of the many symbols in the story “the masque of the red death,” which symbol suggests that the party guests’ fate is certain and soon to come? a. the ebony clock b. the black room c. the tripods of fire