The NUMBERS across the top and left side denote the GENERATIONS from a Common Ancetor (The COMMON PROGENITOR).
The second line down and across denote the COMMON PROGENITOR and his DESCENDANTS (his Children and Grand Children).
To figure your relationship to a Cousin, find your relationship to the Common Progenitor in the second line across, then find the relationship of the Cousin to the Common Progenitor in the second column down – move across & down the chart until the two lines intersect and the Actual Relationship between you and your cousin can be found.