tugging

The balloon was by this time tugging hard at the rope that held it to the ground, for the air within it was hot, and this made it so much lighter in weight than the air without that it pulled hard to rise into the sky.

He sat in deep thought, his gaunt hand tugging at his straggling beard.

“‘Then it must be the other way that the thief took,’ cried the fellow, tugging at my sleeve.

The dog sniffed round for an instant, and then with a shrill whine of excitement started off down the street, tugging at his leash in his efforts to go faster.