In the story of the snake at the Chavadi, why did Baba shout about a 'phantom' and repeatedly strike the ground?

The actions of Sai Baba during the Chavadi serpent incident were a deliberate and life-saving performance. According to the account in Chapter 22, Baba's shouts about a 'vivashi,' or phantom, and his striking of the ground with his satka were not signs of his own distress. Instead, it was an 'extraordinary method' to give a warning. The text explains this was his tactic to deliver devotees from crisis. By creating a commotion about a non-existent spirit, he woke everyone up and, through the experienced devotee Amir, drew attention to the real and present danger—a large venomous snake—without causing a panic that might have made the situation worse.