"It seems hardly the place for such a display." "They're fireworks, all right," said the Panther, "but it's not election night.

You're correct about that part of it.

Look, there goes the fourth an' the fifth." Two more streaks of flame curved and fell, and Ned and Crockett were still puzzled.
"Them's burnin' arrers," said the Panther.

"It's an old trick of the Injuns.

If they had time enough they'd be sure to set the cabin on fire, and then from ambush they'd shoot the people as they ran out.