The life of a slave was often as unbearable as a life can be. They could not be sure they will not be killed at any instant, without a warning, or tortured, or even forced to torture others.
Some slaves probably favoured death to their fate, and felt that even a slight chance at improvement was worth the risk. Perhaps they hoped they would be either killed or freed, and not tortured, and perhaps they would be tortured anyway by their cruel masters, In a way, for many escape was they only option that offered any sort of hope for a bearable life for them.
